 "Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. (Photo: Chinese Embassy)")
A Chinese military delegation is in Japan on a rare visit “aiming to improve relations” with its Asian neighbour, said a Japanese government spokesperson. The delegation reached Japan on Monday.
This visit, coming days ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20, is being seen as an attempt by the two arch-rivals to thaw their frosty relations before the American leader begins his second term at the White House.
The visit commenced on Monday and will conclude on Friday.
Members of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army visited their Japanese counterparts and senior defense officials, said Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi.
The trip was organised after the Japanese and Chinese defence ministers met in November in Laos on the sidelines of a regional defence gathering, where they agreed to increase exchanges among troops, Hayashi said.
Visit to enhance understanding, trust
The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Command emphasised that the visit will enhance understanding and mutual trust.
“This visit will help enhance understanding and mutual trust between the two sides, and promote defence exchanges between China and Japan,” said in a statement.
This is the first time in five years that any military engagement has taken place between the two East Asian nations.
Japan and China have been working to improve relations that have long been strained by territorial and historical disputes, along with China’s aggressive approach in the South China Sea and East Asia.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHigh-level engagement on both sides
In one such step, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in December of last year.
Japanese National Security Advisor Takeo Akiba also visited China in November and held talks with Wang Yi.
Tokyo is expected to invite Wang Yi to Japan next month, the Nikkei business daily reported last week. This step will pave the way for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Japan.
Xi has not made a state visit to Japan since becoming president of China, except for his visit to Osaka for the 2019 G20 summit along with other world leaders.