Beijing, Sept. 29 (Jiji Press)–Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to correct her remarks about Taiwan during his meeting in Beijing Monday with former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Japan’s leader needs to correct mistaken remarks about the issue of Taiwan as soon as possible, said Wang, foreign minister and a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee. This was the first official meeting between Wang and a Japanese politician since Takaichi’s remarks in November about a possible Taiwan conflict drew ire from China and caused a rapid deterioration in relations between Tokyo and Beijing. China apparently wanted to send a warning signal to the Takaichi administration through a meeting with a Japanese politician who places importance on relations between the two countries. Noting that this year marks 80 years since the opening of the Tokyo war crimes tribunal following the end of World War II, Wang said that it is not possible to open the way for the future without the right attitude on history issues. He stressed that Japan-China relations are currently in a severe phase and need to be normalized. Iwaya, head of Japan’s Association for the Promotion of International Trade, a group aimed at enhancing Japan-China trade and economic exchanges, said that the current state of Japan-China relations is a concern. He added that he hopes to bring bilateral relations back to the basics. The Japanese association has played a part in Japan’s diplomacy toward China through meetings with Chinese leaders. It had planned to send a delegation to China in June, but the trip was postponed because of the death of Yohei Kono, then head of the association and former speaker of Japan’s House of Representatives. During his talks with Iwaya, who led a delegation from the Japanese association, Wang praised Kono for facing up to the crimes committed by Japan’s wartime militarism. Japan is exploring dialogue with China. Industry minister Ryosei Akazawa had a brief conversation with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in China in May, while Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi spoke briefly with Wang in the Philippines in July. Earlier this month, young members of a suprapartisan group of Japanese lawmakers promoting friendly relations with China visited the country. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
