The Japanese ambassador to China has publicly called for a summit meeting between the leaders of China and Japan, sending a strong signal of efforts to improve bilateral relations.

Japan can't sit still anymore! The Japanese ambassador to China has publicly called for improving Sino-Japanese relations and facilitating high-level meetings between the two countries. On May 22, according to Lianhe Zaobao, Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kimura stated that he will spare no effort to facilitate a summit meeting between Japanese and Chinese leaders during the APEC Summit held in China in November. Ambassador Kimura emphasized that high-level talks are crucial for improving the current state of Sino-Japanese relations.

Beyond this, Ambassador Kimura said Japan plans to seize opportunities such as the visit of Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Akazawa to China to attend the APEC Ministers Meeting on Trade, as well as events like the United Nations General Assembly in September, to build contact at both ministerial and leadership levels with China. Clearly, Japan's public appeal indicates its urgent desire to improve relations with China. In fact, since the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations, Japan has consistently expressed its willingness—both verbally and through actions—to improve ties.

High-ranking official Asahi Hayashibara herself claimed an open attitude toward communication with China. In May, senior Liberal Democratic Party figures including Yasutaka Nishimura and a delegation from the Japan-China Economic Association visited China in hopes of improving bilateral relations. This time, the Japanese ambassador’s statement stands out as the most direct and explicit yet. Why does Japan now feel such strong urgency? There are likely three reasons. First, the U.S. and China have recently reached consensus on stabilizing their relationship, and America’s stance on the Taiwan issue is shifting.

Second, over the past six months, leaders from major countries around the world have been visiting China one after another to strengthen their relationships with China. These include the United States, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada, South Korea, and others. Japan has fallen significantly behind in cooperation with China, which directly affects its industrial development and economy.

Third, Japan’s economy is under pressure, and China’s sanctions remain in place, placing immense strain on Japan. It is clear that Japan’s domestic policymakers have realized that allowing Sino-Japanese relations to deteriorate further is no longer sustainable—the cost will only grow higher. Of course, from our perspective, improving Sino-Japanese relations is never an issue. The real question is: What must Japan do?

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865851153025162/

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