The secret visit to Japan by Chinese State Security Minister Chen Wenqing indicates that the administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping has fully started efforts to build an intelligence channel with Japan -- a key U.S. ally -- in response to China's confrontation with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to sources, the Chinese side presented a forward-looking attitude throughout the meetings to arrange Chen's visit as China hopes to hold the United States in check through increased exchanges with Japanese authorities.
China also aims to obtain information on the activities of Uighur separatists living in exile in Japan through such a channel.
After Canada arrested a top executive of Huawei Technologies Co., a leading Chinese telecommunications company, China detained Canadian nationals including a former Canadian diplomat. The detentions were carried out by a body under China's State Security Ministry.
For Japan, which also has citizens in Chinese detention, securing a high-level communications channel offers valuable opportunities to help assess the Chinese side's intentions and gain other information.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
