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Japanese delegation seeks to soothe strained ties with China

From Al Jazeera · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Japanese lawmakers are visiting Beijing to ease diplomatic tensions with China following comments by a Japanese minister on Taiwan.
  • The delegation aims to restore communication, which has been severed since late last year, impacting economic relations.
  • This visit is the first high-level consultation since ties soured, with China having previously imposed trade restrictions in response to the comments.

A delegation of Japanese lawmakers arrived in Beijing Monday, seeking to mend what is described as the worst rift in relations between the two nations since diplomatic ties were normalized in 1972. The visit aims to restart dialogue after communication channels were severed late last year, following comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.

Communication has been severed in all areas, and we are beginning to see their impact in many areas. I hope we can somehow find a clue to restart a dialogue.

— Shinichi IsaA delegation member and spokesperson for the Centrist Reform Alliance, speaking to reporters before leaving Tokyo.

Takaichi's remarks in November, suggesting Japan might respond militarily to a Chinese attack on Taiwan, triggered a significant diplomatic dispute. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, responded by warning citizens against travel to Japan and tightening trade restrictions, reportedly disrupting the flow of rare earth minerals.

The delegation, comprising members from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and opposition parties, is the first to hold consultations with senior Chinese Communist Party officials since the ties soured. "Communication has been severed in all areas, and we are beginning to see their impact in many areas," said Shinichi Isa, a delegation member and former diplomat. "I hope we can somehow find a clue to restart a dialogue."

all channels between officials and ministries have been cut off.

— Shinichi IsaDescribing the current state of relations in a post on X.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the visit, stating that "some people of insight from both Japan's ruling and opposition parties" are troubled by the state of relations and wish to help steer them back on track. The ministry urged Tokyo to heed these voices and act to restore normal exchanges. Takaichi has not retracted her comments, and further exchanges are planned, with another delegation expected to visit China soon.

some people of insight from both Japan’s ruling and opposition parties are troubled by the state of relations and hoped to help steer them back on track while calling on Tokyo to heed those voices and act to restore normal exchanges between the two countries.

— China's Ministry of Foreign AffairsCommenting on the delegation's visit.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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