'Important neighbour': Japan open to dialogue with China amid Taiwan dispute, PM Takaichi says

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday that Japan remains open to dialogue with China, even as relations have been strained by a diplomatic row triggered by her earlier remarks on Taiwan, underlining Tokyo’s intent to maintain constructive and stable ties with its neighbour despite recent tensions.

“China is an important neighbour for Japan, and we need to build constructive and stable relationships,” Takaichi told a news conference. “Japan is always open to dialogue with China. We’re not shutting our door.”

Dispute over Taiwan comments

China and Japan have been at odds since Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on the self-ruled democratic island. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. The remarks triggered a sharp diplomatic backlash from Beijing, which urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan. This month, Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japanese jets, prompting Tokyo to summon Beijing’s ambassador.

China sanctions former Japanese military chief over Taiwan advisory role

China on Monday imposed sanctions on a former top Japanese military officer for what it described as colluding with “‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces”, the foreign ministry said, as a long-running diplomatic dispute with Japan continues to simmer.

Shigeru Iwasaki, who served as chief of staff of the Japanese Self Defense Forces Joint Staff from 2012 to 2014, was named as an advisor to Taiwan’s government in March, according to Taiwanese media.

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China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has repeatedly threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Beijing said on Monday that it firmly opposed Iwasaki taking up the advisory role.

The retired general has “openly colluded with ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, seriously violating the one-China principle… and damaging China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Under the announced “countermeasures”, the 72-year-old has been barred from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and any assets he holds in the country will be frozen. People and organisations in China are also prohibited from working with him, the ministry added.

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Japan’s foreign ministry said it was “regrettable for the Chinese side to take a unilateral measure that seems to intimidate someone with a different position”.

Taiwan, which rejects China’s claims over its territory, also responded.

“China has no jurisdiction over the participation of the Taiwanese people or citizens of other countries in political, public or democratic activities in Taiwan or in third countries,” Taipei’s foreign ministry said.