Firstly, it is worth highlighting the importance of the visit itself, which took place on 25-26 December last year. While the Japanese side had definitively confirmed the trip a month in advance, the Chinese authorities had been more ambiguous, with references to Japanese press reports. This is hardly surprising, given the significant challenges in relations between two of Asia’s three leading powers, which are pivotal in shaping the political landscape of the Indo-Pacific alongside India. 

On the Visit of Japan’s Foreign Minister to China

Vladimir Terehov

 

The visit of Japan’s Foreign Minister, Takeaki Iwai, to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the end of December 2024 was a significant event in shaping developments in the Indo-Pacific region.

 Geopolitical Context and Key Outcomes of Takeaki Iwai’s Visit to the PRC The trend towards easing tensions between the two leading Asian powers, which are also neighbours of Russia should be welcomed 

The overall geopolitical picture reflects even minor nuances in the evolving dynamics of the relationships within the “triangle” formed by these three nations, as well as within each bilateral relationship. This explains the considerable attention the global media paid to the visit, especially as it occurred amid uncertainties surrounding the political direction of the newly forming US administration.

In this context, maintaining functional communication channels between China and Japan takes on particular importance. These mechanisms allow the leadership of both nations to respond swiftly to various unexpected developments. Both Beijing and Tokyo deemed it necessary to utilise this opportunity even before the “American uncertainties” were resolved – if, indeed, they are to be resolved at all.

The visit’s series of events began with Takeaki Iwai’s brief courtesy meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. However, the central element was likely the subsequent three-hour meeting with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Official statements from both sides, referencing the mid-November meeting in Peru between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinji Ishiba (held during the APEC Summit), emphasised a shared commitment to fostering “mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests.” To this end, the bilateral communication channels will be expanded, including the establishment of regular meetings between the two countries’ foreign ministers.

Later, after a joint lunch, Takeaki Iwai and Wang Yi participated in an hour-long meeting on “humanitarian and cultural” topics, which included relevant ministers. The first day of Takeaki Iwai’s visit concluded with a 90-minute “dinner meeting” with Liu Jianchao, Head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China.

One notable outcome of the visit was the agreement for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Japan in February 2025. This will mark the first visit of its kind since 2020, a period during which the sharp deterioration in international relations reached a “negative plateau” from which it has yet to descend.

While the primary agenda of the upcoming meeting between the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers will likely focus on trade and economic issues, the timing appears deliberate. By February, a new US president – a key ally for one of these nations and a principal geopolitical rival for the other – will have assumed office.

Associated Positive Developments

At present, the most notable positive developments are in the “cultural and humanitarian” sphere, which was a major topic during the discussed negotiations. Focusing on this area is a timely decision by both sides, given the long-standing and deeply mutual animosity between Japanese and Chinese populations at the societal level. According to recent surveys, up to 90% of the population in both countries view each other negatively to varying degrees.

This issue was specifically highlighted by Wang Yi during a press briefing following his talks with Takeaki Iwai. Meanwhile, Iwai emphasised during discussions on “cultural and humanitarian” matters that fostering “constructive and stable relations” between Japan and China necessitates establishing regular interactions between the citizens of the two countries.

In this context, the early December 2024 hosting of the 20th “Tokyo-Beijing Forum” and the simultaneous decision to waive tourist visa requirements for the upcoming year were especially timely initiatives.

However, one should not harbour unfounded illusions

However, it is important to avoid unwarranted optimism about the state of and trends in Japan-China relations. To provide a more balanced view, one can refer to a recent study by the National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS), affiliated with Japan’s Ministry of Defence. The study, titled The Rising Global South and China, is accompanied by a telling illustration on its cover.

One of the key aspects of the “Great Global Game” today involves major powers competing for dominant influence in countries collectively referred to as the “Global South.” This competition is becoming particularly evident in Africa, which is prominently featured on the NIDS study cover and identified as a critical challenge to Japan’s interests.

A similar dynamic is observed in Latin America, though it is particularly pronounced in Southeast Asia, a subregion geographically closest to both Japan and China. Notably, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that during Iwai’s meeting with Wang Yi, the Japanese foreign minister “expressed serious concern” about the situation in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands, and Taiwan, affirming that Tokyo is “closely monitoring” developments in these areas.

Another major area of contention lies in the increasingly intense competition between Japan and China in global markets, particularly in cutting-edge industries promising substantial economic dividends. A prime example is the production and sale of electric vehicles, where Chinese companies have already established an undisputed global leadership position. In an attempt to counterbalance this, Japan has initiated the merger of two major automakers, Nissan and Honda, with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation also planning to join this alliance.

Defence and security trends in Japan offer little cause for optimism either. The country’s draft budget for the next fiscal year includes another increase in defence spending, this time by 9.4%. It has been reported that new documents regarding the U.S. “nuclear umbrella” over Japan have been adopted, outlining a mechanism for Tokyo to submit “relevant requests” to Washington.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the trend towards easing tensions between the two leading Asian powers, which are also neighbours of Russia, as demonstrated during the Japanese Foreign Minister’s visit to China, should be welcomed. However, we must not lose sight of the extreme complexity and contradictions inherent in the entire system of Japan-China relations.

 

Vladimir Terekhov, expert on Asia-Pacific issues

https://journal-neo.su/2025/01/09/on-the-visit-of-japans-foreign-minister-to-china/

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

 

HYPOCRISY ISN’T ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SINS.

HENCE ITS POPULARITY IN THE ABRAHAMIC TRADITIONS…

 

 

PLEASE DO NOT BLAME RUSSIA IF WW3 STARTS. BLAME AMERICA.