EDITORIAL: Japan, China can work together for regional peace and stability　

by ASAHI
December 26, 2024

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, front left, meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, front right, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Dec. 25.

We welcome the emerging willingness among policymakers in both Japan and China to expand bilateral dialogue as a first step toward improving relations between the two nations.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited Beijing on Dec. 25 and met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other officials. It was the first visit to China by a Japanese foreign minister in 20 months.

Recent meetings between the leaders and foreign ministers of the two countries have been limited to brief sessions on the sidelines of international conferences.

For some time now, there have been no opportunities for their top foreign policy officials to engage in in-depth discussions during dedicated visits to the respective countries. Consequently, various bilateral issues have accumulated and remain unresolved.

China has agreed to gradually ease the import ban it imposed on Japanese seafood products immediately after Japan began releasing treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, once safety is confirmed.

However, progress toward the lifting of the ban has been slow since the two governments reached the agreement.

During their meeting in Beijing, Iwaya and Wang reportedly confirmed the implementation of the agreement. Tokyo needs to continue urging China to take steps in line with the agreement.

Iwaya announced the relaxing of visa issuance requirements for Chinese tourists coming to Japan, as a reciprocal action in response to the Chinese government's move at the end of November to resume visa exemption measures for Japanese visitors, which had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The relationship between Japan and China has become strained in various aspects, including public sentiment in both countries.

Public opinion surveys conducted by Japan's Genron NPO, a nonprofit organization promoting private-sector international exchanges, and other organizations reveal that about 90 percent of people in both countries hold a negative impression of the other.

Promoting people-to-people exchanges is essential for advancing mutual understanding.

It is encouraging that Beijing is taking steps to facilitate business and leisure trips for Japanese nationals to China.

However, the series of arrests of Japanese company employees under the anti-spy law and the unresolved stabbing incidents in connection with Japanese schools are causing many Japanese to reconsider traveling to China.

The Chinese government must work to alleviate these concerns within Japanese society.

Military tensions between Japan and China remain high in the East China Sea, a troubling situation that naturally prompted Iwaya to convey his concerns to Wang.

In August, a Chinese military aircraft violated Japanese airspace off Nagasaki Prefecture. China explained that it was “not intentional,” but this claim is at odds with the fact that violations of territorial waters and contiguous zones by Chinese naval vessels continue.

Chinese government ships frequently intrude into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and the Chinese military is intensifying its intimidation of Taiwan, which is close to Okinawa.

First and foremost, effective bilateral communication is essential to prevent unforeseen conflicts.

Dialogue at the top leadership and ministerial levels is crucial, as is establishing a system where the Self-Defense Forces and the Chinese military regularly meet and exchange views to avoid dangerous misunderstandings of each other's intentions.

North Korea is engaging with Russia and, with Moscow’s backing, advancing its nuclear and missile development. This poses a security threat to Japan and concerns China as well.

Japan and China can contribute to peace and stability in Northeast Asia by finding common ground on security matters and enhancing cooperation.

From this perspective, it is hoped that the two nations will demonstrate a solid commitment to continuing dialogue and strengthening their relations.