Japan China Foreign Minister Call Days After NATO Chiefs Visit
Japan and China held a phone call between their respective foreign ministers days after NATO’s top two leaders visited Tokyo. The call on Friday, held between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, comes as both countries seek to ease tensions over territorial and security issues. The call took place after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. The two NATO officials discussed a range of topics including China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. In their call, Motegi and Wang discussed a range of issues, including the situation in the South China Sea, North Korea’s nuclear program and the East China Sea, where China and Japan have competing claims. The two sides also touched on economic cooperation and the coronavirus pandemic. Motegi and Wang agreed to continue dialogue between their countries and to cooperate on various issues, including the coronavirus pandemic and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They also discussed the possibility of a future summit between the two countries. The call comes amid heightened tensions between Japan and China over a number of issues. In recent months, China has stepped up its military presence in the East China Sea, where it has overlapping claims with Japan. Japan has also accused China of interfering with its efforts to defend the Senkaku Islands, which are also claimed by China and Taiwan. In addition, Japan has expressed its concern over China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and has called for a “free and open” region. Japan has sought to strengthen its ties with the United States and other countries in the region, including India, in an effort to counter China’s growing clout.
South China Sea Dispute
The South China Sea is the site of a long-running dispute between China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. China claims most of the sea as its own, while the other countries claim parts of it. The dispute has been a source of tension in the region for decades, with China and its neighbors accusing each other of encroaching on their respective maritime boundaries. The United States has also weighed in on the dispute, with President Joe Biden calling for a peaceful resolution to the dispute. The South China Sea is an important shipping lane and is believed to hold vast reserves of oil and natural gas. It has also become a major theater of competition between the United States and China, with both countries sending military vessels and aircraft to the region.
U.S.-Japan Alliance
The U.S.-Japan alliance has been a key element of regional security since the end of World War II. The two countries have a long history of cooperation, including on security issues such as the security of the Korean Peninsula and the East China Sea. The U.S. and Japan have also sought to strengthen economic ties, with the two countries negotiating a trade deal in 2019. The two countries have also worked together to promote regional stability and combat terrorism.
China’s Role in the Region
China has sought to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years, investing heavily in infrastructure projects and military bases. China has also sought to challenge U.S. dominance in the region, with President Xi Jinping calling for a “new type of international relations” in which China plays a larger role. China has sought to cultivate ties with its neighbors, offering economic aid and investment in exchange for diplomatic recognition. China has also sought to increase its influence in the South China Sea, with Beijing sending ships and aircraft to the region.
Regional Cooperation
Japan, China, and other countries in the region have sought to cooperate on various issues, including economic development and the fight against terrorism. China and Japan have also sought to find ways to cooperate on issues related to the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The two countries have also sought to cooperate on economic issues. Japan has sought to cooperate with China on infrastructure projects, while China has offered investment in Japanese companies. The two countries have also sought to strengthen ties through cultural and educational exchanges.
Japan-China Relations
Japan and China have a long and complex history, with relations between the two countries often characterized by tension and mistrust. The two countries fought a war in the 1930s and 1940s, and their relations were further strained after Japan’s invasion of China in the 1940s. The two countries have since sought to improve their relations, establishing diplomatic ties in 1972. The two countries have sought to cooperate on various issues, including economic and security issues, though there have been frequent tensions over territorial and security issues.
Outlook
The recent phone call between Japan and China’s foreign ministers is a sign that the two countries are seeking to ease tensions and find ways to cooperate. However, the two countries still have deep-seated differences on a range of issues, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It remains to be seen how the two countries will resolve their differences and find ways to cooperate. In the meantime, Japan and China will likely continue to seek ways to improve their relations and cooperate on various issues.
