Japan Protests China

Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, has expressed “strong concern” about China’s increasing military activity near Taiwan and Japan during his two-day visit to China. Hayashi became Japan’s first diplomat to travel there in over three years. He protested against the detention of a Japanese national in Beijing and demanded the early release of an Astellas Pharma employee detained last month on spying allegations.

During a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, Hayashi raised serious concern about China’s increasingly assertive maritime activity in the East and South China Seas. He emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and expressed grave concern about Beijing’s increased joint military activity with Russia around Japan while Moscow wages war against Ukraine. Hayashi urged China to act responsibly for global peace.

Hayashi and Qin agreed to work together towards achieving “a constructive and stable relationship” as agreed between their leaders in November. The sides also agreed to improve communication in regional security, welcoming the establishment of a defense hotline last week and the resumption of defense talks.

In a separate meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Hayashi discussed the importance of their bilateral economic ties and said it was crucial that Japanese nationals and companies feel safe to operate in China. However, Qin warned against Japanese involvement in issues related to Taiwan, saying Tokyo should not interfere and “undermine China’s sovereignty in any way.”

In recent years, Japan and China have been increasingly at odds as Japan considers China’s growing influence in the region a threat to its security and economy. Japan is increasingly worried about a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan because of its proximity to southwestern Japanese islands as well as disputed East China Sea islands claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing, and has bolstered its defenses in recent years.

China has criticized Japan over its new export controls of semiconductor manufacturing equipment that require companies to get government permission, urging Japan not to be America’s pawn. The measure was seen as part of a U.S.-led agreement to keep advanced semiconductor manufacturing out of the reach of the Chinese industry.

Hayashi’s visit to China comes amid escalating tensions between Japan and China over territorial disputes and military activities in the region. The two countries have long been at odds over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which are administered by Japan but also claimed by China. Japan has accused China of repeatedly sending ships into the disputed waters, while China has accused Japan of violating its sovereignty by purchasing the islands from a private owner in 2012.

The U.S. has been closely monitoring the tensions between Japan and China and has pledged to support Japan in the event of any conflict. The Biden administration has emphasized the importance of its alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, including with Japan, as part of its efforts to counter China’s growing influence and assertiveness in the region.

Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, has demanded the release of a detained Japanese national in China and expressed grave concern about China’s military activities near Japan and Taiwan. His visit to China comes amid escalating tensions between the two countries over territorial disputes and military activities in the region. The U.S. has pledged to support Japan in the event of any conflict, emphasizing the importance of its alliances in the Indo-Pacific region.