Japan must urge China to promote economic cooperation and resolve pending security issues. The Japanese government should accelerate its efforts to encourage China to do so through candid dialogue.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Japan. Suga emphasized, "Stable relations between the two countries are important for both the region and the international community," while Wang stated that China would like to cooperate with Japan in various fields.
It was the first time for the prime minister to meet in person with a Chinese high official since taking office. China apparently aims to determine Suga's policies for dealing with China-related issues and to prepare for a transfer of power in the United States, with which China has been intensifying confrontation.
Relations between Japan and China have been back on a normal track as leaders of the two countries have exchanged visits under the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It is vital to maintain stable relations by continuing this policy and building confidence among the leaders of the two countries.
During a separate meeting, Japanese Foreign Minster Toshimitsu Motegi and Wang agreed to resume mutual visits for business purposes between the two countries by the end of this month, which have been restricted due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The infection situation in China is more stable than that in the United States and Europe. Taking into account the fact that China is Japan's largest trade partner, it can be said that the agreement was made based on a reasonable judgment. It is hoped that the two countries will take thorough measures to prevent the spread of infections and resume economic activities safely.
The two foreign ministers agreed to hold a "high-level economic dialogue" to discuss a wide range of issues, including the environment and medical care. The Japanese side called on China for an early abolition of import restrictions it imposed on Japanese food in the wake of the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, and they reached a consensus to accelerate discussions on the issue.
Cooperation between the two countries, the world's second- and third-largest economies, will lead to the development of the entire Asian region. They should promote open trade and produce tangible and concrete results.
In order to further deepen the relationship of trust between Japan and China, it is essential for China to abandon its aggressive maritime expansion and abide by international laws and rules.
China has been taking provocative actions around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and the number of incursions by Chinese government vessels into Japanese territorial waters and their navigation in the contiguous zone is rather increasing.
It is natural for the prime minister to ask the Chinese side for self-restraint on its activities around the Senkaku Islands during the meeting.
Wang said at a press conference that Japanese fishing boats were entering sensitive waters and therefore China had to respond to them.
This is a unilateral claim that violates Japan's sovereignty and can never be tolerated. It is questionable whether China really intends to improve its relations with Japan.
The Chinese government has tightened its grip on pro-democracy forces in Hong Kong. Japan needs to repeatedly convey to China the will of the international community not to allow China's activities to run counter to the "one country, two systems" arrangement guaranteed by its international pledge.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 27, 2020.
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