Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers met for the first time in 3 years

The foreign ministers of Japan and China held talks for the first time in over three years on Sunday, April 2, against the backdrop of tensions between the two countries, according to the DW.

The visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Yosimasa Khaya was the first visit of a Japanese diplomat to China in the last three years, AP notes. During a meeting with his colleague Sin Gan, he protested the arrest of a Japanese citizen in Beijing, and also expressed “strong concern” that Chinese military activism was growing near Tokyo Taiwan and around Japan.

An employee of the Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma had been arrested a week earlier in Beijing on charges of espionage. Neither side provided details of the charges against him, AP writes. According to the Japanese TIV, five Japanese citizens are currently detained in China, two of whom have already been tried and convicted. Sin Gan responded by saying that China was “running the case in accordance with the law”.

Increased tensions around Taiwan

Khayasi also expressed “serious concern” about China's military activism, including its cooperation with Russia and its military actions in the East China Sea. “We both reaffirmed the importance of continuing dialogue on various issues, including national security issues,” said the Japanese Minister.

According to him, the parties agreed to cooperate to achieve a “constructive and sustainable relationship”. Sin Gan, in turn, warned Japan not to interfere with Taiwan-related issues and said that Tokyo should “in no way undermine Chinese sovereignty,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to Yosimasa Khayasi, despite the disagreements, the two nations agreed to continue tripartite negotiations with South Korea, calling it a “significant achievement”.