Former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visits China and Wang Yi reiterates his correction of remarks on the Taiwan issue

Some analysts believe that the behavior of the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not an accidental etiquette omission, but more likely a conscious downgrade of diplomatic language directed at the Japanese Prime Minister, intended to express China's strong dissatisfaction and warning attitude without formally escalating diplomatic confrontation. This approach reflects the current reality that Sino-Japanese relations are significantly tightened due to the Taiwan Strait issue, and also reflects the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' usual communication strategy of "leaving room for leeway, but using tough words".

Former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited Beijing this week as chairman of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JCPOA) and held separate meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The Japan Times reported that this was the first formal meeting between a Japanese politician and such a high-level ministerial-level official from China since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on the Taiwan crisis in November last year caused a sharp deterioration in Japan-China relations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iwaya in Beijing that bilateral relations between the two countries were facing a "serious situation" and must be "normalized" again. "The top priority is to correct the Japanese leader's wrong words and deeds on the Taiwan issue as soon as possible," Wang Yi said.

Tokyo is still seeking opportunities to resume talks with its biggest strategic rival and trading partner, and has repeatedly said the door to talks remains open.

However, neither government has shown any sign of backing down, leaving little sign of a breakthrough.

The Japan Times analyzed that the two visits to China by the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians Alliance and former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in mid-September may be to establish some kind of secret communication channel between Japan and China before the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November. It is expected that Takaichi Sanae will also attend the summit.