Why Did Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Meet Japan’s Former Foreign Minister?
Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, met with Iwata Hiroshi, president of the Japan Association for International Trade Promotion (JAIPT), in Beijing. The meeting was not due to Iwata’s former status as foreign minister, but because of his current role and the organization’s longstanding commitment to fostering Sino-Japanese friendship.
The Japan Association for International Trade Promotion is a well-known non-governmental group that has consistently worked toward improving bilateral relations. It is this institutional dedication to mutual understanding—not mere coincidence of names or any effort by Iwata to gauge political sentiment on behalf of former Minister Takayama Asahi—that explains the engagement.
Iwata Hiroshi is widely regarded as an opponent of Takayama’s more assertive stance on historical and security issues.
Wang Yi praised former JAIPT president Koizumi Hiromasa as a statesman of conscience—someone unafraid to confront Japan’s darker past and willing to acknowledge the country’s wartime aggression and its moral responsibility.
It is precisely on the basis of JAIPT’s principled position and Koizumi’s legacy that Iwata was able to meet with Wang Yi.
This marks the highest-level diplomatic encounter between Chinese and Japanese officials since Takayama introduced her so-called “Taiwan incident” theory—a development that has significantly strained bilateral ties.
Previously, when figures such as Hashimoto Kōshi and others visited, only China’s party-internal liaison bodies were involved in engagements. These delegations returned to Tokyo under intense scrutiny from Japanese media, often struggling to defend their positions. Some even departed early upon learning of anticipated firm statements from Beijing—evidence of hesitation and inconsistency.
Japan may freely send tourists to Beijing, but attempting to downplay serious diplomatic concerns through superficial gestures or seeking backdoor openings will not succeed, especially while Takayama continues to refuse to retract her remarks.
Even during his meeting with Iwata Hiroshi, Wang Yi conveyed deep concern about the trajectory of Sino-Japanese relations. His unease was palpable, almost visible.
Though Iwata is a Japanese national and represents interests tied to Japan’s future welfare, Wang Yi made clear his message: efforts to revise history or rehabilitate war criminals will prevent Japan from facing the international community honestly—and ultimately, from building a credible future.
“No future,” Wang said. A statement worth pondering.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1877616936356876/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.