Japan’s chip curbs will drive Beijing’s self-reliance, says Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang

BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Japanese counterpart on Sunday that Tokyo’s

new export controls on semiconductor equipment

will only further drive Beijing’s quest “to become self-reliant”.

Mr Yoshimasa Hayashi’s visit to China is

the first by a Japanese foreign minister since December 2019,

ending a gap of over three years during which bilateral ties have sharply deteriorated.

The ministers’ Beijing meeting comes just days after Japan unveiled planned export controls on 23 items used to make semiconductors, following US pressure for countries to restrict China’s access to the technology.

“The United States used bullying tactics to brutally suppress the Japanese semiconductor industry, and now it is repeating its old tricks against China,” Mr Qin told his counterpart, according to a read-out of the meeting.

He also accused Japan of being Washington’s “minion”.

“The blockade will only further stimulate China’s determination to become self-reliant,” he said.

Japan’s controls were preceded by similar restrictions imposed in March by the Netherlands, where the authorities cited “international and national security”.

In comments to reporters, Mr Hayashi on Sunday defended the new restrictions as “consistent with international rules”, adding that they were “not aimed at a specific country”.

Semiconductors have become a major flashpoint in the souring ties between China and Japan – the world’s second- and third-largest economies.

The foreign ministers also

discussed China’s recent detention of a Japanese national working in Beijing

for Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company Astellas under allegations of espionage.

Mr Hayashi told reporters after the meeting that Japan had “protested” against the detention, and called for “the immediate release of that individual”.

Mr Qin said on Sunday that “China would deal with him according to the law”, without offering further details on the case.

The two sides also discussed a disputed group of islands that Japan calls Senkaku and Beijing calls Diaoyu.

Mr Hayashi said: “We reiterated my serious concerns about the East China Sea, including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, as well as China’s increased military activities in and around our country, including cooperation with Russia.”

During their meeting, Mr Qin also urged Japan to steer clear of issues related to Taiwan and keep away from those that could harm China’s sovereignty.

Many officials in Japan, who view Taiwan’s stability as key to Tokyo’s security, have expressed fears that China may one day seize the island by force.

“Peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation are the only right choice for China-Japan ties,” Mr Qin said.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

Beijing’s growing regional assertiveness will likely be among the key topics discussed at this year’s Group of Seven meeting, which Japan is scheduled to host. AFP, BLOOMBERG