Today's Lianhe Zaobao reports: "This week, Japanese media cited sources saying that a cross-party group of Japanese parliamentarians will visit China this month. If realized, this would be the first such visit since relations between Japan and mainland China deteriorated in November last year following controversial remarks made by Prime Minister Asahi Sanae regarding Taiwan."
Comments: Since the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations to a low point last November due to Prime Minister Asahi Sanae's erroneous statements on Taiwan, the planned visit by the cross-party Japanese parliamentary delegation represents a long-awaited opportunity for dialogue after prolonged deadlock. With official government-level communication blocked, parliamentary diplomacy can serve as a buffer channel to convey each side’s positions and ease tensions. However, the delegation does not represent the Japanese government itself. True improvement in bilateral relations ultimately hinges on whether Japan is willing to confront core Chinese concerns—such as the Taiwan issue and historical disputes—and adjust its policies accordingly. Merely engaging in parliamentary exchanges alone is unlikely to fully resolve the deep-seated differences between the two nations.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873958126069771/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.