China Rejects Indirect Fix for Takaichi's 'Taiwan Remarks': 'She Must Resolve It Herself'

Former Foreign Minister Iwaya Reveals Details of Meeting with Wang Yi
"Effectively Retract the Remarks by Reaffirming the Japan-China Joint Communique," He Proposed
Wang Yi Rejected It: "The Party That Caused the Problem Must Resolve It"

Yonhap News Agency

Japan reportedly proposed an indirect solution to thaw Japan-China relations, which had been frozen by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about Japan intervening in the event of a Taiwan contingency, but China rejected it. Beijing maintained that, to improve bilateral ties, Prime Minister Takaichi herself must retract the remarks rather than effectively letting the matter drop.

Former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said in an interview with Jiji Press on October 7 that he visited China late last month and discussed the issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Iwaya led a delegation from a private-sector Japan-China economic exchange organization during the visit.

According to Iwaya, Wang demanded that Prime Minister Takaichi retract remarks about Taiwan that she made in the Diet in November last year. Takaichi drew strong opposition from China after saying that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” in which Japan could exercise its right to collective self-defense.

Iwaya said that directly retracting the remarks would carry “a very heavy political cost” and proposed an alternative solution: both governments could reaffirm the intent of the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique, thereby treating Takaichi's remarks as effectively retracted.

The Japan-China Joint Communique states that Japan “fully understands and respects” China's position that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China.”

Wang, however, rejected the proposal. “An ambiguous approach is not good,” he said, adding, “There is a saying in China: ‘The person who resolves a problem should be the one who caused it.’” His response was interpreted to mean that Prime Minister Takaichi herself must resolve the issue.

Iwaya also asked Wang to refrain from criticizing Japan's efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities as “a new form of militarism.” Wang reportedly agreed on the need to improve Japan-China relations, but China's view of the Takaichi administration remained firm.

During his visit to China, Iwaya also met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and urged him to ease export restrictions on rare earths and other critical minerals to Japan.

He replied, “We will impose restrictions if they are for military use, but there is no problem if they are for civilian use,” adding, “We are exploring better ways to manage them.” Jiji Press reported that He had expressed eagerness to resume economic cooperation between the two countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.