Wang Yi Urges Japan to Correct Leaders’ Statements and Actions on Taiwan

Dragon Media News Desk

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said Japan should promptly correct what he described as erroneous statements and actions by its leaders on the Taiwan question. He made the remarks in Beijing on Monday during a meeting with Takeshi Iwaya, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, and called for the political foundation of China–Japan relations to be preserved.

Wang, who directs the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also said Japan’s approach to history matters for bilateral relations. He referred to the lessons of the Second World War, Japan’s postwar pacifist constitution and its wartime aggression. Noting that next year marks 55 years since China and Japan normalised diplomatic relations, he called on Japan to adopt an objective and rational view of China.

Iwaya said the current state of bilateral relations was concerning. His association would work to improve ties in keeping with the original intent of the four political documents between the two countries, he said. He also urged Japanese politicians to remain committed to peaceful development.

Iwaya spoke as head of a trade association. His remarks were not presented as an official response from the Japanese government.