(Adnkronos) – There would be evidence of dialogue between China and Japan, after the escalation of diplomatic tensions triggered by statements on Taiwan by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. A meeting took place this morning in Beijing between delegations from the two countries, confirmed first by Tokyo government sources cited by the Kyodo agency. But meanwhile, CCTV reports, the release of at least two Japanese films in China is being postponed. The film ‘Cells at Work!’ and the animated film ‘Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers’ are targeted. And it is not clear when the premiere will be.
In Beijing, however, sources from the Land of the Rising Sun say that Masaaki Kanai, head of the Asia and Oceania Bureau of Tokyo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with his Chinese counterpart, Liu Jinsong, in an attempt to ease tensions that have already affected tourism, as well as other sectors. Japan maintains that its position on the island, which is de facto independent but for which Beijing wants “reunification” without excluding the use of force, has never changed.
After the news from Tokyo, Chinese media circulated images of Masaaki Kanai leaving a Beijing hotel without answering journalists’ questions. And the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that they had reiterated a “strong protest” to the diplomat regarding Takaichi’s “wrong” words, considered a “violation” on a matter that for the Dragon is an “internal affair.”
From Tokyo, Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara reiterated that Japan is “open to all forms of dialogue” with the Asian giant, after Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified yesterday that there is no meeting with Takaichi on Prime Minister Li Qiang’s agenda in South Africa, where the leaders’ summit opens on Saturday.
The conservative Japanese Prime Minister, considered a hawk, hinted earlier this month that a Chinese military attack against Taiwan could legitimize an intervention by Japanese forces in defense of the island. Beijing insists that those statements be “withdrawn.”
In recent days, amidst diplomatic tensions and after the summoning of respective ambassadors, Beijing advised its citizens not to travel to Japan and also issued an alert for students. Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Land of the Rising Sun urged its compatriots in the People’s Republic to exercise caution and “maximum attention.” This morning, Chinese diplomacy reiterated that the Beijing government “has always guaranteed” and “will continue to guarantee the safety of foreigners” in China.
