China's Wang Yi Meets Former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya: "Takaichi Must Correct Taiwan Remarks"

【Financial News, Tokyo = Correspondent Seo Hye-jin】Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and urged Japan to promptly correct Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks concerning Taiwan. This was the first officially announced meeting between China's top diplomat and a Japanese politician since China-Japan relations deteriorated.
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese media on the 29th, Wang met the previous day in Beijing with former Foreign Minister Iwaya, who was visiting China in his capacity as chairman of the Japan-China Economic Association. The association said the meeting lasted about an hour at the Great Hall of the People. Iwaya is visiting China on a four-day trip that began on the 27th, accompanied by Japanese business representatives.
Wang said during the meeting, "China-Japan relations are once again facing a difficult phase and need to be normalized," adding, "Japan's urgent task is to promptly correct the erroneous remarks and conduct of its leader regarding the Taiwan issue." His comments were aimed at Prime Minister Takaichi's Diet response in November last year concerning a possible contingency involving Taiwan.
Wang also took issue with Japan's stance on historical issues. 
While continuing its criticism of the Takaichi administration, China has made its contact with a Japanese private-sector organization responsible for economic exchanges official. This has prompted speculation that China is selectively choosing dialogue partners to approach Japan's political and business circles while pressuring the Takaichi administration.
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Foreign Minister Iwaya said, "The current state of China-Japan relations is concerning," and pledged to carry forward the wishes of former association chairman Yōhei Kōno, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, by working to improve bilateral relations. The Japan-China Economic Association is an organization responsible for trade and economic exchanges with China.
The delegation had initially been scheduled to visit China in June, but postponed the trip after Kōno, who was chairman at the time, died.
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