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Japan’s foreign minister says ties with China remain ‘in a difficult situation’
- Toshimitsu Motegi expresses hope that the relationship will improve, stressing need for communication and dialogue
- At the same forum, his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi warns that issues like Taiwan are ‘serious and sensitive’
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Japan’s foreign minister on Monday expressed hope for Tokyo’s relations with Beijing to improve, as the two Asian powers prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.
In a message to an online forum attended by experts well versed in the two nations’ affairs, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sino-Japanese relations remained “in a serious and difficult situation” given that the Asian countries had different values and rules.
Motegi also emphasised the necessity of people-to-people communication and dialogue to build a constructive and stable relationship.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, meanwhile, said in a video message that mutual exchanges between the two countries should be promoted in various fields.
But Wang warned that issues such as Taiwan were “serious and sensitive”, apparently urging Japan not to interfere in what the Chinese government claims are its internal affairs.
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Beijing sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, to be taken under its control by force if necessary.
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