Chinese Communist Party Misrepresents Shimo Yoshihiro's Statements; Japan Protests and Demands Deletion of Content

Image: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

[People News] Last Friday (21st), Japanese Prime Minister Shimo Yoshihiro met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the official residence. However, it was later discovered that the content of the meeting published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's official website included statements that Shimo Yoshihiro did not actually make. Japan promptly lodged a protest with China and demanded the removal of the 'inaccurate' content.

According to Radio Free Asia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's official website reported that Wang Yi emphasized the importance of treating each other sincerely and building trust and harmony as close neighbours separated by a narrow body of water. He urged the Japanese side to adhere to the principles established in the four political documents, including the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, to maintain the political and legal foundation of bilateral relations and to earnestly fulfill important political commitments regarding historical and Taiwan issues.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japan. Wang Yi expressed hope that at this significant moment, the Japanese side would make wise choices based on a responsible attitude towards history, the people, and the future, sending the correct signal to the world.

No Mention of 'Respecting China's Stated Position'

The official website further stated: 'The Japanese side fully recognizes the significant importance of the four political documents between Japan and China, respects China's stated position, and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China to promote the forward development of bilateral relations, ultimately benefiting the peoples of both countries.'

In response to the statement about 'respecting China's articulated position,' the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that 'Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru did not make such a statement,' expressing regret over the actions of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has lodged a formal protest with China.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also disclosed that during the talks, Ishiba Shigeru addressed several topics, including the situation in the East China Sea, ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals in China, and expressing hopes for the Chinese Communist Party to lift the ban on imports of Japanese seafood products soon.

As of noon on Monday (the 24th), the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official website had not yet removed the related content. Similar incidents have occurred in the past; on July 26, 2024, Wang Yi held talks with then-Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko in Laos regarding Taiwan issues. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the conversation's content, claiming that Kamikawa stated 'the Japanese side's adherence to the one-China position has not changed at all.' However, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered that 'this content differs from Kamikawa's remarks and the views of the Japanese government,' emphasizing that the Chinese side lacks accuracy.

The Economic Dialogue Holds More Symbolic Significance than Practical Value

Additionally, after a six-year hiatus, the sixth high-level economic dialogue between China and Japan took place last Saturday (the 22nd) in Tokyo, co-hosted by Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takashi. The Chinese side announced that 20 'important consensuses' were reached, enriching the strategic mutual benefit relationship between China and Japan in the economic domain, and both sides committed to building a constructive and stable economic and trade relationship. However, the Japanese side's primary concern regarding seafood products did not have a clear timeline for reopening.

According to unnamed scholars on Sino-Japanese relations in Beijing, as reported by the Central News Agency, the improvement in Sino-Japanese relations remains more symbolic than practical, but at least on the surface, this improvement does not harm either side.

He stated that in light of the policies of U.S. President 'Trump 2.0', both China and Japan need to collaborate, particularly in the economic sector. Consequently, both nations have a mutual interest in improving relations for cooperation, although only some principles have been suggested. The feasibility of implementing these principles in specific projects will require further discussions. Regarding political security, neither China nor Japan has yet engaged in this matter, and tensions persist. The relationship concerning political security is the primary factor influencing the bilateral ties between the two countries.