Akizawa Ryo attended a meeting in Suzhou, stating he had only a brief exchange with Wang Wentao. The Chinese side emphasized that Japan must cease crossing red lines.

According to foreign media reports, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Akisato Ryo, is attending the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Trade in Suzhou. On May 23, he told reporters that he did not hold an official bilateral meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wen-tao, but had a "brief conversation" before dinner on the 22nd.

As the highest-ranking Japanese official to visit China following the diplomatic freeze triggered by Taro Aso's provocative remarks on Taiwan, Akisato's trip conveys two key signals: first, signaling to the outside world that contact channels between China and Japan remain open, testing the waters for thawing relations; second, gauging China's position and stance to seek space for dialogue. The phrase "brief conversation" alone reveals Japan's awkward situation.

China's position has always been clear: the door for engagement remains open, but only if Japan stops crossing red lines. Taro Aso's "Taiwan is an issue" statement has yet to be retracted. If Japan continues to say one thing while doing another, lacking genuine political sincerity, the relationship between China and Japan will remain difficult to improve.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866000037789899/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.