Archive · 29 Sep 2026
China Calls for Normalized Japan Ties Amid Taiwan Dispute
China and Japan are having a serious disagreement about Taiwan and Japan’s defense plans.
China says Japan’s prime minister made comments suggesting Japan might send troops if Taiwan faced a crisis.
China wants her to correct those comments.
Former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited Beijing to talk with Chinese officials.
China described the visit as an unofficial exchange.
Japanese officials did not directly comment on the meeting but said the two countries should keep talking.
China also accused Japan of forgetting its wartime aggression and moving toward militarism.
Both countries are expected to mark 55 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said strained China-Japan relations require normalization again.
Beijing demanded that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi correct remarks linking a Taiwan crisis to possible Japanese troop deployment.
Former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met Wang Yi while leading an unofficial trade delegation in Beijing.
Japanese officials declined to comment directly but said communication with China should continue at various levels.
China also criticized Japan’s defense plans and wartime historical positions, warning against a return to militarism.
- Who
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya are central figures.
- What
- China called for the normalization of strained relations with Japan and again demanded that Takaichi correct her Taiwan-related remarks.
- When
- Wang made the comments on Monday; the dispute follows Takaichi’s remarks last November, and 2027 will mark 55 years of diplomatic ties.
- Where
- The meeting took place in Beijing, China.
- Why
- Relations have deteriorated over Taiwan, Japan’s defense-policy changes, and disagreements about Japan’s wartime history.
China’s Position
Japan’s Position
Taiwan-related remarks
China’s Position
China says Takaichi’s comments linking a Taiwan crisis to possible Japanese troop deployment undermine Beijing’s claims over Taiwan and the political foundations of bilateral relations.
Japan’s Position
Japanese officials did not directly address the remarks in the reported responses, but Japan has maintained that communication with China should continue.
Defense and security policy
China’s Position
China says Japan’s higher defense spending, proposed changes to its pacifist constitution, and revisions to its non-nuclear principles signal a return to militarism.
Japan’s Position
Tokyo has dismissed China’s criticisms as hypocritical and has continued to leave open dialogue with Beijing.
Historical memory
China’s Position
Wang Yi warned that Japan must acknowledge its wartime aggression and said it could not face the world if it erased history or glorified convicted war criminals.
Japan’s Position
The Japanese side did not respond directly to Wang’s historical comments in the reported meeting, while Japanese officials emphasized maintaining communication.
- Main dispute
- China objects to Japanese remarks linking a Taiwan crisis with possible Japanese troop deployment.
- Chinese demand
- Beijing wants Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to correct her remarks.
- Meeting
- Wang Yi met former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing.
- Nature of visit
- China described Iwaya’s delegation as an unofficial, civil-society exchange.
- Diplomatic milestone
- 2027 will mark the 55th anniversary of China-Japan diplomatic relations.
- Japanese response
- Japanese officials said communication with China should continue but did not directly comment on the meeting.
- Additional tensions
- China criticized Japan’s defense spending, proposed constitutional changes, and wartime historical positions.