Chinese Premier has no plans to meet Japan PM on sidelines of G-20: China

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Qiang does not plan to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the sidelines of this weekend’s Group of 20 (G-20) leaders’ summit in South Africa, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Nov 17, signalling increasingly sour ties over the new Japanese leader’s remarks on Taiwan.

The announcement came as a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official

arrived in China for a visit aimed at calming the diplomatic spat

that has begun to affect travel and tourism between the two neighbouring countries.

China lodged a protest after Ms Takaichi told a parliamentary committee on Nov 7 that a military attack on Taiwan could be a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, indicating a potential response involving the Japanese Self-Defence Forces.

Beijing regards the self-ruled island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. It has also said that the Taiwan issue is purely an “internal affair”.

In a meeting with the Chinese side expected to be held on Nov 18, Mr Masaaki Kanai, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, will stress that Ms Takaichi has not changed Japan’s stance as stated in a 1972 joint communique, Japanese government sources said.

In the document, Tokyo recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China, switching its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Nov 14 it had summoned the Japanese ambassador in Beijing Kenji Kanasugi, and demanded that Ms Takaichi retract her remarks.

The Japanese government, for its part, has raised the issue of a social media post by Chinese Consul-General in Osaka Xue Jian, who, in apparent anger over Ms Takaichi’s remark, threatened to “cut a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation”.

The Chinese government urged its citizens on Nov 14 to avoid visiting Japan and on Nov 16 called on those planning to study in Japan to carefully reconsider, citing safety risks.

Japan’s top government spokesman Minoru Kihara told a press conference on Nov 17 that such recommendations by China appear to discourage personal exchanges and are completely contradictory to a recent agreement between the nations’ leaders on a “strategic and mutually beneficial relationship” as well as “constructive and stable ties”.

Ms Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached the agreement on Oct 31, when they met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. It was their first bilateral meeting since Ms Takaichi took office on Oct 21.

The Japanese side has been exploring a meeting between Ms Takaichi and Mr Li on the sidelines of the G20, viewing communication as crucial during challenging times.

However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a press conference on Nov 17 that there are no plans for such a meeting.

Referring to the 1972 communique, Ms Mao also said “no matter which political party or figure is in power in Japan, they must uphold and abide by the commitments of the Japanese government” on Taiwan.

She reiterated Beijing’s demand that Tokyo “stop crossing the line” and “retract the wrongful remarks” made by Ms Takaichi.

In Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing condemns as a separatist, urged China to “exercise restraint” and demonstrate the conduct expected of a major power, telling reporters on Nov 17 that its “multifaceted attacks against Japan” have seriously impacted peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

“China should not become a troublemaker undermining regional peace and stability,” the island’s leader said.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara said four Chinese coast guard ships entered Japan’s territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea the previous day.

“It’s a violation of international law. We have lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels,” he said.

The uninhabited islets are controlled by Japan but claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu.

Amid escalating tensions, a forum on Sino-Japanese ties that was scheduled to be held later in November in Beijing will be postponed, Japanese organisers said on Nov 17.

The Chinese co-organisers claimed in a letter sent on Nov 16 that Ms Takaichi’s “provocative” remarks have spoilt the mood for regular bilateral exchange and cooperation, the Japanese non-profit think-tank Genron NPO said.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China called for more communication between the two Asian neighbours to address issues of concern and improve their ties, referring to the agreement reached by Ms Takaichi and Mr Xi in South Korea.

Meanwhile, a Japan-China friendship event scheduled for later this week in Hiroshima, western Japan, was cancelled, people involved on the Japanese side said. China’s Osaka consul-general Xue was originally supposed to attend it. KYODO NEWS