Japan and China discuss lifting travel ban, Tokyo raises concerns about ‘incursions’ near disputed islands

Japanese defence minister reiterated objections to Chinese vessels entering waters around the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyus
The US has meanwhile offered to help monitor activities of Chinese ships around the uninhabited island chain in the East China Sea

China-Japan relations

Kyodo

Published: 6:02pm, 29 Jul 2020

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Japan and China agreed on Wednesday to work toward resuming mutual travel that has stalled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi discussed the issue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi over the phone, the Foreign Ministry said.

China is among a group of countries for which Japan is considering easing its travel ban as the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks to balance economic recovery with containing the coronavirus.

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The travel ban is currently in place for 146 countries and regions, with foreign travellers who have been to any of them within 14 days of arriving in Japan being refused entry.

Motegi and Wang agreed to make arrangements for the resumption of mutual travel “as soon as possible”, according to the ministry.

During the 80-minute call, Motegi reiterated concern over repeated intrusions by Chinese vessels into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkakus, the uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are administered by Japan but claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyus.

The ministry said Motegi also voiced concern over the situation in Hong Kong, where China has imposed a new national security law empowering it to crack down on what it views as subversive activity.

Critics say the law impinges on human rights and freedoms that were promised to the former British colony for 50 years after its return to Chinese control in 1997.

The Senkakus are uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are administered by Japan but claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyus. Photo: Kyodo

Both the maritime intrusions and the Hong Kong issue have become sources of tension between Tokyo and Beijing, with conservative lawmakers in Japan urging Abe’s administration to rescind an invitation for Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit as a state guest.

Meanwhile, the US military is able to help monitor the “unprecedented incursions” by Chinese ships around the islands, which could escalate next month once Beijing lifts a fishing ban in the area, the commander of US Forces Japan, General Kevin Schneider, said on Wednesday.

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The US does not take a position on sovereignty over the uninhabited islands but has said that it would help its ally Japan defend against any attack.

China’s foreign ministry immediately reacted to Schneider’s comments, saying the islands were Chinese territory and calling on all parties to uphold stability in the region.

Additional reporting by Reuters

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Tokyo and Beijing talk about lifting travel ban

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