Political Officials from China And Japan Meet Following Taiwan Tensions

After post-Taiwan tensions, including live-fire exercises around Taiwan and Chinese missiles falling in Japan's economic exclusion zone (EEC), Akiba Takeo, Japan's National Security Secretariat, and Yang Jiechi, Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor, have met in northern China. | China and Japan Locator Map | Public Domain Image |via Wikimedia Commons

By Adam Butler, SJ Correspondent
August 19, 2022 08:45 am UTC
Modified: August 19, 2022 08:45 am

CHINA - After post-Taiwan tensions, including live-fire exercises around Taiwan and Chinese missiles falling in Japan's economic exclusion zone (EEC), Akiba Takeo, Japan's National Security Secretariat, and Yang Jiechi, Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor, have met in northern China.

Their meeting, which was held on Wednesday, August 17th, came after the cancellation of a foreign minister's meeting between the two after Japan signed a #G7 statement, criticizing the exercises around Taiwan earlier in the month.

During China's live-fire exercises, which were implemented after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi flew to Taiwan, in the early days of August, Several ICBMs were launched over Taiwan, with one falling into Japan's EEC, with Japanese diplomatic protesting following in response.

According to the Associated Press, China has repeatedly stated, that Taiwan belongs to it, and will be taken by force if necessary. The Taiwan issue has been ongoing since 1949, When Mao Zedong's Communist Party took over China, and the Nationalist government fled to Taiwan, led by Chiang Kai-shek.

China has further announced continued drills and exercises, following an additional congressional delegation from the United States, led by congressman Ed Markey, but has failed to mention the place and time of the exercises.

In totality, we have passed the 2-week mark of live-fire drills surrounding Taiwan, as the drills, though smaller in comparison to the beginning of them, they have not been successful in persuading the population of Taiwan, which includes 23 million individuals, who stand in solidarity over independence, but want to maintain economic trade with the mainland.

In the meeting, statements were taken by both officials as AP reported:

"...the Taiwan question bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and the basic trust and good faith between the two countries,..." - Akiba Takeo, National Security Secretariat, Japan

"Japan should... shape up a right perception of China, pursue a positive, pragmatic and rational China policy, and uphold the right direction of peaceful development..." - Yang Jiechi, Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor, China

According to the Japan Times, Yang stated that in the 2,000 years of history between China and Japan, along with the 50th anniversary of diplomacy, both countries need to find a balance so that a "peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation" could be maintained, and is the only "right choice."

Japan's Akiba Takeo had a meeting earlier this month with Jake Sullivan, United States Security Advisor in Washington, where they reaffirmed the need for keeping "peace and stability in the region," according to The Associated Press. He also met with Anthony Blinkin, United States Secretary of State, where it was discussed to maintain an "inclusive, free, and open Indo-Pacific also according to a press release from the State Department.

The aggression that China has demonstrated towards Taiwan has been likened to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, amid world events. There was a meeting between the Russian and Chinese Presidents, prior to Russia's invasion, where the Russo-China relations had no limits, and Russia supported China in its claim to Taiwan.

According to AP, there are many in China who still hold resentment over the Japanese occupation of China prior to and including World War II, which has been sustained through "Communist Party propaganda."