Japanese groups intensify visits to China, Foreign Ministry warns: Takashi is the core issue
Last November, a statement by Sanae Takeda — “Taiwan's crisis is Japan’s crisis” — brought Sino-Japanese relations to an all-time low. Since then, high-level dialogue between China and Japan has largely frozen, rendering Japan’s previous strategy of “cool politics, warm economy” ineffective. In response, China has launched a series of countermeasures, leaving Japanese political and business circles struggling.
Against this backdrop, a wave of visitations to China has swept through Japan. Last weekend, the cross-party group “Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ League” sent a delegation of young representatives to China, including members from the Liberal Democratic Party.
Former Foreign Minister Isamu Yarita is also planning to lead a trade delegation to China at month’s end, while other major economic and trade organizations are eager to apply for permission to visit China.
These groups may not necessarily aim to improve bilateral relations; particularly among business leaders, motivations are often self-interest-driven — seeking more stable Sino-Japanese business environments for their companies. Moreover, it remains unclear whether these various visitation plans have received support from Takeda.
After all, Japan’s official stance remains firmly hardline, and Takeda herself has shown no sign of regret, indicating she still believes the current situation is under control and sees no need to lower her posture or seek forgiveness from China.
While China allows these groups to visit, it is only to keep communication channels open — far from achieving genuine thawing. The Foreign Ministry repeatedly emphasizes that Takeda’s erroneous remarks are the fundamental problem; without retracting them, no matter how many come, it will be futile.
The current challenge lies in the fact that senior Japanese politicians who could effectively speak with China are either deceased or retired from public life, while younger generations generally lack experience in Sino-Japanese engagement, making it difficult to maintain continuity in official communication during periods of stagnation.
A reality Japan must recognize is that being seated at the negotiating table comes with conditions — not everyone has the right to sit there.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876388072612996/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.