China, Japan Foreign Ministers Make First Contact Since Taiwan Remark

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TOKYO: China and Japan's foreign ministers have held their first reported talks since a diplomatic dispute erupted last November over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan, signalling a cautious effort to keep communication channels open despite strained ties.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. After the meeting, Motegi said the two discussed bilateral relations and stressed that "it is extremely important that we continue to maintain our dialogue," highlighting Tokyo's desire to sustain diplomatic engagement.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated after Takaichi suggested Japan could intervene militarily if Taiwan came under attack. Beijing strongly objected, imposed trade restrictions and advised its citizens against travelling to Japan, deepening tensions.

While Japanese media described the meeting as the first ministerial contact since the dispute began, China's foreign ministry stopped short of confirming it, saying Wang Yi had no scheduled meeting with the Japanese side during his visit to Manila.