Japan-China talks make little progress, MP says

Japanese lawmakers seeking to improve ties with China appeared to make little progress in Beijing, with one member of the delegation saying there were “many heated exchanges”.

The delegation included a lawmaker from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and two opposition lawmakers, including Shinichi Isa of the Centrist Reform Alliance.

Isa told local media in Tokyo that both sides understood the visit was meant to create an atmosphere for normalisation. But he said the Chinese side's tough stance was clear.

Isa said senior Chinese official Lu Kang told the lawmakers that China's position would not change unless Japanese statements and perceptions about Taiwan changed. Isa added that the visit itself was a step forward from having no exchange at all.

Relations have worsened since Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily in a conflict over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. China responded by warning its citizens against travel to Japan and imposing trade restrictions that have reportedly reduced supplies of rare earth minerals to Japanese firms.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Thursday that the root cause of serious difficulties in relations lay in what he called erroneous remarks and actions by Japanese government leaders on Taiwan, military and security issues.

Japanese government chief spokesman Minoru Kihara said Friday that China was an important neighbour and that Japan would continue to promote constructive and stable relations while holding dialogue at various levels.