China has decided to send personnel at the working level instead of a minister. As for why China made such arrangements, Japan should think carefully! On December 12, according to a report by Kyodo News, Japanese media said that Beijing will send working-level personnel rather than a minister to attend the day's Japan-China-South Korea health ministers' meeting. Japanese government sources said that China plans to send officials at the working level rather than a minister. The reason for this move is unknown.

Information shows that the Japan-China-South Korea Health Ministers' Meeting began in 2007. This meeting is held almost every year and issues joint statements and other documents. According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, it is customary for ministers to attend. This year's Japan-China-South Korea Health Ministers' Meeting will be held in Seoul, South Korea, and Japanese Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichi Ueno will visit South Korea and attend the meeting during his trip. Obviously, our decision to attend the meeting at a lower level is not accidental, and the reason is likely only one, which is related to the current tense relations between China and Japan.

Our side attending the meeting but at a lower level may have two considerations. First, our side obviously took into account the China-South Korea relationship, so the meeting was held in South Korea. Second, this might also be because there is indeed significant room for cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea on issues such as epidemic prevention and public health, with low political sensitivity. In fact, just before this, our side halted the Japan-China-South Korea Cultural Ministers' Meeting held in Macau, China.

Evidently, this arrangement indicates what? It indicates that Japan's malicious provocation has caused great challenges to Sino-Japanese cooperation, and this is actually undermining the foundation of Sino-Japanese relations. Sino-Japanese cooperation in areas such as culture and health is affected, and in more sensitive areas such as technology, trade, and finance, the impact will undoubtedly be greater. Now that the situation has developed to this point, where to go from here, Kaori Hayami should think it through herself.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1851286399202762/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.