Japan lawmakers head to China after Taiwan row

A delegation of Japanese lawmakers left for China on Monday to seek dialogue after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan angered Beijing.

Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily in any conflict over Taiwan, which Beijing insists is part of its territory. China later warned its citizens against travel to Japan and imposed trade restrictions.

The delegation includes a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and two opposition lawmakers from a cross-party group that promotes ties with China. Japanese media reported they were expected to meet senior Chinese Communist Party officials in the first such exchange since Takaichi's comments.

Shinichi Isa, an opposition lawmaker in the delegation, said he wanted the trip to create an opportunity for dialogue while contacts were cut off.

An official from LDP lawmaker Gaku Hashimoto's office confirmed that Hashimoto had departed for Beijing for a two-day stay.