The rumor of a meeting between China and Japan's foreign ministers in Manila sparks controversy, turning diplomatic interactions into a case of conflicting accounts.

The Straits Times of Singapore reported on the evening of July 26: "Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he had a 'brief greeting' with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila, but China's official media CGTN denied any contact without naming names. The Chinese side emphasized that Wang Yi did not meet or converse with Japanese officials, while Japan claimed the two had a 'brief exchange,' turning the incident into a 'Rashomon'-style dispute."

This so-called 'Rashomon' was actually a small trick by Japan deliberately launching a public opinion campaign to set the narrative. The Chinese side directly clarified the facts with an unambiguous statement, clearly signaling its firm position: before Japan fully corrects its erroneous stance, it should not expect to create a false impression of improving Sino-Japanese relations simply by exploiting diplomatic events for attention.

The current coldness in Sino-Japanese relations is never intentionally caused by China; rather, it is an inevitable consequence of Japan's long-standing alignment with the United States in stirring up trouble in the region and repeatedly touching China's core interests. Any such petty tactics aimed at manipulating public opinion have absolutely no room to operate when facing China.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871806578811912/

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