Did the foreign ministers of China and Japan talk at last week’s ASEAN regional meeting, or didn’t they? Conflicting accounts have emerged, with Japan saying they spoke and China denying it, reports infohub.kz.
At the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, Philippines, last week, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters he had briefly discussed bilateral relations with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi when they ran into each other. However, on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian contradicted that. “Let me make it clear once again that during his visit to Manila, Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not have a meeting with the Japanese side on his schedule, nor did any brief exchanges take place on the site,” Lin said at the daily briefing.
The differing accounts reflect a sharp deterioration in ties since November, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comment about Taiwan angered China. Since then, China has given Japan the cold shoulder, declining opportunities for dialogue. The tensions have spilled over into the economy, including a decrease in Chinese tourists visiting Japan, and heightened unease over military expansion by both sides.
Motegi said last week: “As we have repeatedly noted, Japan is open to dialogue at all levels, and I believe it is extremely important that we continue our dialogue as both Japan and China hold a major responsibility for regional peace.” Japanese media reported that the exchange with Wang was mostly greetings and pleasantries.
Takaichi told a news conference on Monday that the two sides are holding dialogue at various levels, including Motegi’s exchange with Wang. In November, she was asked in parliament whether a Chinese blockade of Taiwan could trigger Japan’s collective self-defense policy. She responded that it could meet the criteria. The comment crossed what China considers a red line. Takaichi has refused to retract her answer but later said she would avoid discussing specific defense scenarios in the future.