China News
SUPERPOWERS
China says Japan's foreign minister to visit on Wednesday
China says Japan's foreign minister to visit on Wednesday
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Dec 24, 2024

Japan's foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya will visit China on Wednesday for talks with local counterpart Wang Yi, as Tokyo acknowledged "challenges and concerns" in relations.

The visit will be Iwaya's first to China since becoming Japan's top diplomat earlier this year.

He told reporters in Tokyo that "China represents one of the most important bilateral relationships for us".

"Between Japan and China, there are various possibilities but also multiple challenges and concerns," he said.

"Both countries possess the heavy responsibilities for the peace and stability of our region and the international community," he added.

China and Japan are key trading partners, but increased friction over territorial rivalries and military spending has frayed ties in recent years.

Japan's brutal occupation of parts of China before and during World War II remains a sore point, with Beijing accusing Tokyo of failing to atone for its past.

Visits by Japanese officials to the Yasukuni shrine that honours war dead -- including convicted war criminals -- regularly prompt anger from Beijing.

Tokyo is a longstanding and key US ally, but it has been expanding its partnerships as a bulwark against Beijing.

China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing "was ready to work with Japan... to focus on common interests, strengthen dialogue and communication, deepen practical cooperation (and) properly manage differences".

Beijing will "strive to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era", she added.

"The Chinese side attaches great importance to the foreign minister's visit, and Chinese leaders will meet with the foreign minister," she said.

- Tense ties -

Tensions flared last year over Japan's decision to begin releasing into the Pacific Ocean some of the 540 Olympic swimming pools' worth of reactor cooling water amassed since the tsunami that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster -- an operation the UN atomic agency deemed safe.

China branded the move "selfish" and banned all Japanese seafood imports.

In September, Beijing said it would "gradually resume" importing the seafood.

China imported more than $500 million worth of seafood from Japan in 2022, according to customs data.

Beijing's more assertive presence around disputed territories in the region has also sparked Tokyo's ire, as it boosts security ties with the United States and its allies.

In August, a Chinese military aircraft staged the first confirmed incursion by China into Japanese airspace, followed weeks later by a Japanese warship sailing through the Taiwan Strait for the first time.

Beijing's rare test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in late September also drew strong protests from Tokyo, which said it had not been given advance notice.

China also in August formally indicted a Japanese man held since last year on espionage charges.

The man, an employee of the Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas, was held in March last year and placed under formal arrest in October.

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SUPERPOWERS
Sri Lanka president to visit key lender China
Colombo (AFP) Dec 21, 2024
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will travel to the island's largest bilateral lender China for talks in January, he said on Saturday, days after completing a long-delayed foreign debt restructure. China accounted for more than half of Sri Lanka's bilateral debt at the time of the 2022 economic crash, when Colombo ran out of foreign exchange to pay for essential imports such as food, fuel and medicines. Its economy is recovering after receiving an International Monetary Fund rescue ... read more

SUPERPOWERS
Shenzhou XIX crew completes successful spacewalk outside Tiangong station

China boosts Lunar and Mars mission capabilities with advanced Long March rockets

Long March 12 set for inaugural launch from Hainan space center

China inflatable space capsule aces orbital test

SUPERPOWERS
China lifts rock lobster ban, bringing end to Australian trade barriers

Markets struggle as traders digest Fed's hawkish pivot

Asian markets mixed as traders digest Fed's hawkish pivot

China's Xi lauds Macau's 'healthy' gambling industry

SUPERPOWERS
SUPERPOWERS
US Congress passes bill to avert shutdown

Macron stresses Djibouti base as France loses Africa footholds

Sri Lanka president to visit key lender China

China says wants 'comprehensive solution' to India border dispute

SUPERPOWERS
Hybrid plastic scintillators offer safer radiation detection and enhanced imaging

France's most powerful nuclear reactor finally comes on stream

Framatome to provide advanced digital system upgrades for Bruce Power fleet life extension

Framatome integrates 3D-printed fuel components in Swedish nuclear reactor

SUPERPOWERS
BigBear.ai and Proof Labs develop cyber resilient on-orbit solution for Air Force

Chinese ship sails amid Baltic cable case as China warns Germany on spying claims

Espionage, political influence and secret police stations put spotlight on US and German spy cases

US charges 'Chinese agent' over political influence

SUPERPOWERS
Hybrid plastic scintillators offer safer radiation detection and enhanced imaging

France's most powerful nuclear reactor finally comes on stream

Framatome to provide advanced digital system upgrades for Bruce Power fleet life extension

Framatome integrates 3D-printed fuel components in Swedish nuclear reactor

SUPERPOWERS
BP to 'significantly reduce' renewables investment

Baltic Sea wind farms impair Sweden's defence, says military

Sweden blocks 13 offshore wind farms over defence concerns

Sweden's defence concerned by planned offshore wind power

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.