China-Japan relations are at risk due to recent comments by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in support of Taiwan and intervention in China’s armed reunification, with Beijing threatening to “reconsider” bilateral relations between China and Japan, according to a December 9 report in the South China Morning Post, as relayed by Chinese media.
Abe attended the Taiwan “National Policy Institute” related forum line on December 1 by video and gave a speech saying, “If something happens to Taiwan, it’s equivalent to something happening to Japan, and it means something happening to the Japan-U.S. alliance. For people in Beijing, especially Chairman Xi, there should be absolutely no misunderstanding about this.”
According to the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on the evening of December 1, Beijing time, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying made an urgent appointment with Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi, saying that China strongly urged the Japanese side not to damage China’s sovereignty in any form and not to underestimate the strong determination, firm will and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to sources with knowledge of the talks between Hua Chunying and Hideo Tarumi, the talks took place in a very tense atmosphere. At one point, Hua threatened that China might “reconsider” Sino-Japanese relations if Japan took further action on the Taiwan issue.
The source, who requested anonymity, said Hua Chunying asked Japan to clarify its official position on the Taiwan issue.
But the Japanese side claimed that “Abe is no longer a member of the cabinet and his remarks were made in his personal capacity.”
Sources close to the matter revealed that “Hua Chunying told Hideo Tarumi that if Japan continues down this path, China will have to reconsider how it handles bilateral relations between China and Japan and how China treats Japan.”
After Hua Chunying’s meeting with Hideo Tarumi, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a Dec. 2 news conference that the Japanese government could not explain Abe’s remarks because he had left the government, Kyodo News reported.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi mentioned at a press conference on Dec. 3 that “it is necessary for the Chinese side to understand the situation related to the situation around Taiwan and that such thoughts exist within the country (Japan). It is impossible to accept the Chinese side’s unilateral claim.”
In response to Abe’s remarks, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that “the government is not in a position to comment” and stressed that “it has been our consistent position to expect the issue surrounding Taiwan to be resolved peacefully through dialogue.”
The source said the Japanese side asked China not to make public the situation of the meeting between Hideo Tarumi and Hua Chunying, but the Chinese side made it public, which made Japan frustrated, and the Japanese side conveyed to China that Japan is considering canceling part of the working-level dialogue between Japan and China.
Besides, the Japanese Embassy in China informed invited guests on December 7 that a Japan-China exchange event scheduled for the afternoon of December 7, Beijing time, would be suspended, according to Kyodo News.
The Japanese Embassy in China stated that the Beijing COVID-19 Prevention Department requested the suspension of the event that day and the Embassy agreed.
In a letter to Chinese guests, the Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi said, “We have been in close communication with Beijing and the relevant departments of the Chinese government and have been making preparations. It is extremely regrettable that it was not the intention as the organizer.” About 250 people were invited to the event.
The event was to promote Japan’s tourist attractions, culture and culinary appeal. It was planned to be broadcast live in cooperation with Chinese internet celebrities who are influential on the internet and others. The Japanese Embassy in China received a reminder fax from Beijing over the weekend in an effort to strengthen measures against the pandemic.
Kyodo News commented that it is relatively rare for events to be canceled on the day of the event. 2022 marks the 50th-anniversary point of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, but exchanges may be accompanied by difficulties.