The Japanese government has lodged a protest with China, requesting the partial removal of a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry regarding a meeting between Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, Bloomberg reports.
The dispute centers on China’s claim that Ishiba told Wang that “Japan respects the positions elaborated by the Chinese side.” According to Japan’s foreign ministry, Ishiba never made such a statement.
Wang Yi was in Japan over the weekend for economic discussions and paid a courtesy visit to Ishiba. The Chinese statement, while not specifying the positions Ishiba purportedly respects, noted Wang’s call for Japan to “earnestly fulfill important political commitments on historical issues and the Taiwan question.” He also requested Japan adhere to the four documents that underpin Japan-China diplomacy and safeguard the legal foundation of their relationship.
The Japanese protest comes amid heightened regional tensions, fueled by potential US tariffs and ongoing US-China disputes. Japan often navigates a complex position, balancing its security alliance with the United States and its economic relationship with China, its largest trading partner. The status of Taiwan remains a significant point of contention between Japan and China.
The two government spokesmen made the comments days after news of Taiwan naming Japan’s ex-defense chief as its cabinet consultant renewed focus on Japan and China’s differing positions on Taiwan.
Japan maintains close ties with Taiwan and opposes any unilateral changes to the island’s status. China, however, views Taiwan as a renegade province and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control.
During bilateral talks on Saturday with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, Wang addressed various points of contention between the two Asian nations. Iwaya urged for the peaceful resolution of relations between Taiwan and China and reiterated Japan’s opposition to any attempts to change the status quo by coercion, according to a statement released by Japan’s foreign ministry.
