A delegation of Japanese lawmakers traveled to China to mend strained bilateral relations following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a potential Taiwan emergency. The cross-party group, which includes ruling and opposition members, aims to restart political dialogue amid travel warnings and rare earth trade restrictions.
Political Fallout From Taiwan Remarks
Relations between Tokyo and Beijing soured significantly following remarks made by Japanese Prime minister Takaichi Sanae during a Diet session last November on a possible Taiwan emergency. Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily in any conflict over Taiwan, which Beijing insists is part of its territory.
The fallout was swift and multifaceted. China responded by warning its citizens against travel to Japan and imposed trade restrictions that have reportedly led to big drops in the supply of rare earth minerals to Japanese firms.
Cross-Party Delegation Departs for Beijing
Seeking to ease mounting tensions, a delegation of Japanese lawmakers left for China on Monday with the aim of patching up ties in the wake of comments about Taiwan by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that angered Beijing. The group comprises a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and two opposition lawmakers, all from a cross-party group that seeks to foster ties with China. The plan for legislative outreach was initially announced on Thursday by Moriyama Hiroshi, who chairs the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ Union. He is a former secretary-general of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Moriyama told reporters that junior Diet members who belong to the non-partisan group are planning to visit China in September. Moriyama said they are in the process of forming a delegation, and are also working out the details of their schedule, including which Chinese officials they will be able to meet during their visit.
They are expected to meet with senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party, Japanese media reported, in the first such exchange since Takaichi’s comments.
“In a situation where everything is currently cut off, I would like to make this an opportunity to somehow grasp an opportunity of dialogue,”
Shinichi Isa, delegation member and Lower House lawmaker, who is also public communications chief for the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance.
An official from LDP Lower House member Gaku Hashimoto’s office confirmed that he departed (for Beijing) to stay for two days there.
The official declined to comment further.
Diplomatic Maneuvering and Prior Contacts
The current parliamentary visits follow a series of preliminary diplomatic contacts. Japan’s top diplomat said in July he discussed bilateral relations
with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of a regional foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila. Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman later denied that a meeting took place.
Hashimoto, the son of the late former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying in Beijing in June, Kyodo News reported last week. At the time, he was the acting head of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade.
Upcoming Business and Political Itineraries
The legislative visits mark the beginning of a broader wave of planned exchanges between the two nations. The group’s new head, former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, is expected to lead the group on a trip to China in late September, Kyodo reported.
About 80 business representatives from the Kansai region also plan to visit China in late November to December, the news agency reported.
