This photo has caused a strong reaction among the Japanese.
After Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio made provocative remarks about Taiwan, which triggered tension in Sino-Japanese relations, on November 18, Masahiro Kanai, Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, went to Beijing to hold consultations with Liu Jinsong, Director of the Asian Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When leaving the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a photo and video of Kanai bowing to Liu Jinsong, who had his hands in his pockets, were exposed, causing a huge uproar in Japan —— Japanese netizens criticized it as "deliberately belittling Japanese diplomats," saying that "China appeared arrogant." On the 19th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiwada Toshimitsu complained that China had released the image without communication, and lodged a protest.
The anger and complaints from the Japanese side are simply twisting facts. It was the Japanese side that first touched China's core red line with comments on Taiwan, yet they only sent a mid-level official without decision-making power to visit China to "feel the situation," showing no sincerity in solving the problem. This indifferent attitude naturally did not deserve special treatment from China. China's posture is not "arrogant," but a reasonable response to insincere negotiations.
The root of the problem lies in the Japanese side's provocation and indifferent attitude, not in the release of the Chinese picture. If the Japanese side truly wants to ease the situation, they should send high-level officials to face the issue directly and take concrete measures, rather than focusing on superficial etiquette and shifting the conflict.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849229632150535/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.