Japan has finally held talks with Chinese officials! On May 19, Kyodo News reported, citing sources, that about 10 members of Japan’s bipartisan "Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League," including senior officials, met with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao in Tokyo on May 18. According to Japanese media, the meeting took place at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, where both sides exchanged views on improving Japan-China relations. It is reported that Ambassador Wu stated that as a diplomat, no one wishes for relations with Japan to deteriorate.
According to relevant sources, this meeting was initiated by China. During the meeting, Ambassador Wu also briefly introduced the U.S.-China summit held on May 14 and 15. Clearly, why did we proactively arrange this meeting with Japanese counterparts? This move likely reflects three considerations: First, the Japanese participants were not cabinet ministers or high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Suga, but rather members of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League—figures associated with Japan’s parliamentary friendly faction. Engaging with such individuals does not affect our overall policy toward Japan.
Second, following the recent U.S.-China summit, we need to project a responsible image and transmit accurate, correct information through appropriate channels to Japan, thereby preventing misjudgments by Japan. Third, to some extent, this engagement responds to expressed desires from Japanese civil society and the business community for dialogue and communication with us. By choosing moderate and friendly lawmakers for these discussions, we can effectively leverage their political influence to smoothly convey China’s firm positions and consistent stance into Japan’s political circles, gradually fostering more rational voices regarding China within Japan.
Clearly, our initiative in organizing this meeting is not an indication of concession or retreat, but rather aimed at dispelling unfounded suspicions and strategic anxieties in Japan, helping it recognize the broader regional development trends, and abandoning the mistaken idea of confrontation. In a sense, this also offers Japan an opportunity to ease its relations with China. Of course, if Japan continues down the path of militarism and ignores the positive signals we have sent, we will undoubtedly respond with even greater firmness.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865618099445065/
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