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▼ Japan, China Trade Chiefs Chat, 1st Ministerial Exchange Amid Row
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Japanese trade minister Ryosei Akazawa said Saturday he had a brief exchange with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on the sidelines of a regional economic forum in Suzhou, eastern China, marking the first ministerial contact between the two countries since their latest diplomatic dispute flared up last year.
Sino-Japanese ties have deteriorated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in parliament last November that Japan could deploy its defense forces in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.
Senior vice foreign minister Iwao Horii, who attended the two-day trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum together with Akazawa, also told reporters he had separately met with Wang and asked Beijing to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China following a knife attack in Shanghai.
Two Japanese men and one Chinese woman were injured in the Tuesday incident at a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai. China has so far described the attack by a man with a mental disorder as an isolated incident.
Akazawa said he approached Wang, who was sitting at a table alone, during a dinner Friday, while Horii said he had chatted with the commerce minister aboard a boat during a cruise after the dinner. Neither revealed details of their contacts with Wang.
Since the escalation of bilateral tensions following Takaichi's remarks, Japan has maintained that it remains open to dialogue with China.
It hopes to arrange a meeting between Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during an APEC summit to be held in southern China's Shenzhen in November to improve the strained ties.
"The Japanese government policy of seeking strategic and mutually beneficial ties with China remains unchanged," Akazawa stressed.
Angered by the Japanese leader's comments, China has increased pressure on Japan through tighter export controls on dual-use items, possibly including rare earths, travel alerts against the neighboring country and cancellations of Japanese cultural events, among other measures.
Following the end of the APEC session, the Japanese trade minister said he called for the removal of export control measures on rare earths and other critical minerals that are not in line with international practices, as they could "severely impact global supply chains."
Taiwan, one of the 21 APEC member economies, sent its trade representative Yang Jen-ni to the Suzhou meeting, but neither Akazawa nor Horii had contact with her, according to Japanese officials.
Last week, Japan's gender equality minister, Hitoshi Kikawada, attended an APEC meeting on women and the economy in Shanghai, marking the first visit to China by a member of the Takaichi Cabinet since her remarks triggered the diplomatic feud.
But he did not have any contact with the Chinese side, the Japanese officials said.
Sino-Japanese ties have deteriorated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in parliament last November that Japan could deploy its defense forces in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.
Senior vice foreign minister Iwao Horii, who attended the two-day trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum together with Akazawa, also told reporters he had separately met with Wang and asked Beijing to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China following a knife attack in Shanghai.
Two Japanese men and one Chinese woman were injured in the Tuesday incident at a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai. China has so far described the attack by a man with a mental disorder as an isolated incident.
Akazawa said he approached Wang, who was sitting at a table alone, during a dinner Friday, while Horii said he had chatted with the commerce minister aboard a boat during a cruise after the dinner. Neither revealed details of their contacts with Wang.
Since the escalation of bilateral tensions following Takaichi's remarks, Japan has maintained that it remains open to dialogue with China.
It hopes to arrange a meeting between Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during an APEC summit to be held in southern China's Shenzhen in November to improve the strained ties.
"The Japanese government policy of seeking strategic and mutually beneficial ties with China remains unchanged," Akazawa stressed.
Angered by the Japanese leader's comments, China has increased pressure on Japan through tighter export controls on dual-use items, possibly including rare earths, travel alerts against the neighboring country and cancellations of Japanese cultural events, among other measures.
Following the end of the APEC session, the Japanese trade minister said he called for the removal of export control measures on rare earths and other critical minerals that are not in line with international practices, as they could "severely impact global supply chains."
Taiwan, one of the 21 APEC member economies, sent its trade representative Yang Jen-ni to the Suzhou meeting, but neither Akazawa nor Horii had contact with her, according to Japanese officials.
Last week, Japan's gender equality minister, Hitoshi Kikawada, attended an APEC meeting on women and the economy in Shanghai, marking the first visit to China by a member of the Takaichi Cabinet since her remarks triggered the diplomatic feud.
But he did not have any contact with the Chinese side, the Japanese officials said.
- 23/5 20:38
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