China Tells Visiting Japanese Lawmakers Japan Policy Unchanged Until Takaichi Withdraws Taiwan Remarks

▲ Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers visiting China met with Lu Kang, vice minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, in Beijing on August 27, Kyodo News reported.

Lu reportedly stated that unless Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks from last November hinting at intervention in a contingency involving Taiwan and her perception of Taiwan change, the Chinese government has no intention of changing its policy toward Japan.

Isa Shinichi, public relations committee chairman of the centrist Reform Alliance who met with Vice Minister Lu during his visit to China, made the remarks, noting that the meeting lasted about two hours.

During the meeting, the Japanese delegation proposed resuming youth and cultural exchanges between Japan and China.

They also reportedly addressed sensitive issues, including the detention of Japanese nationals, delays in export approvals for rare earths to Japan, and the expansion of Chinese military activities in the East and South China Seas.

The delegation's visit to China was reportedly arranged at the invitation of the International Department, the ruling party-to-party diplomacy body of the Chinese Communist Party.

In addition to Public Relations Chairman Isa, the delegation included Gaku Hashimoto of the Liberal Democratic Party and Hiroyuki Konishi, a member of the House of Councillors from the Constitutional Democratic Party.

However, lawmaker Hashimoto returned home early and did not attend the meeting with Vice Minister Lu.

The visit marks the first trip to China by a group of Japanese lawmakers since bilateral relations strained following Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks hinting at intervention in a Taiwan contingency, raising expectations that it could serve as a breakthrough for improving bilateral ties.

However, with China maintaining a hardline stance and demanding the retraction of Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks, prospects remain dim for a short-term improvement in the chilled bilateral relationship.

(Photo: Getty Images)

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