Category: China-Japan relations

Japan’s Foreign Minister Visits China for the First Time in Three Years Amid Turbulent Relations

Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi visited China on April 1. The visit came as the Japanese government announced restrictions on the export of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This is also a time of significant tensions between the two countries because a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma, a Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company in China,…


Chinese Ambassador to Japan Resigns Upon Failure to Complete CCP-Tasked Missions

News Analysis Chinese ambassador to Japan, Kong Xuanyou resigned on Feb. 28 from his post and returned home to China. A 2019 analysis in Nikkei suggests that Kong’s departure was due to his failure to achieve the objective given to him by Beijing to restore and improve China-Japan relations. Kong, 63, was born to an…


Japan and China Trade Accusations Over Temporary Detention of Japanese Diplomat in Beijing

Japan and China blamed each other for the recent detention of a Japanese diplomat in Beijing amid growing tensions between the two countries. On Feb. 23, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had lodged a strong protest over the detention of one of its diplomats in Beijing and demanded an apology. It emphasized that…


New Japanese PM Has First Calls With American, Australian Leaders

Fumio Kishida, Japan’s new prime minister, made his first calls with heads of the United States and Australia on Oct. 5. Experts say he will continue a pro-U.S. and anti-China approach during his tenure. Kishida had a roughly 20-minute conversation with President Joe Biden, the first with a foreign leader since taking office one day…


Taiwan Looms Large in China-Japan Ties

Commentary The “Taiwan factor” has been mostly overlooked in understanding Sino-Japanese ties despite its significance. Beijing has stated the “question of Taiwan involves the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations.” However, the Taiwan issue has taken center stage with the recent release of the Japanese Defense White Paper that makes special mention of Taiwan in the…


Japan Wakes Up

Commentary The decoration of the cover of Japan’s just published 2021 Defense White Paper says it all. Last year’s white paper was covered by a photo of Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms. This year’s version features a 14th-century samurai riding toward the reader. Thus, is Japan at long last “taking the gloves off” as a…