Japan and China’s foreign ministers met face-to-face for the first time in eight months on July 23, following a deterioration in relations triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments regarding Taiwan last November. The two ministers did not hold a formal meeting; instead, they briefly conversed while standing without an interpreter at an international conference.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters in Manila that he exchanged brief greetings and discussed bilateral relations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Motegi declined to disclose specific details of their conversation, citing diplomatic confidentiality, but emphasized the importance of continued dialogue for regional peace.
According to Yomiuri Shimbun, the Japanese Foreign Ministry had prepared an interpreter for Motegi in case he encountered Wang, but refrained from actively seeking contact, anticipating that Wang would likely avoid engagement. Motegi explained that the opportunity for contact arose as both ministers were passing each other during a series of ASEAN-related meetings.
Sources familiar with Japan-China relations indicated to Yomiuri Shimbun that there were no specific discussions on individual issues between the two countries. Topics such as China's submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) drills and Japan's shooting exercises within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) were not addressed. A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official remarked that while the brief exchange was significant, it remains uncertain whether it will lead to improved relations.
Asahi Shimbun noted that Wang appeared to have avoided official engagements with Japan, as he did not attend a formal dinner where Motegi was present and skipped the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, unlike previous years. Throughout the three-day conference, the two ministers did not share any official schedule.
In contrast, Wang held a formal meeting with the Philippine Foreign Minister, who has been at odds with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, marking their first meeting in two years. Asahi Shimbun suggested that China may be gauging Japan's response by treating it differently from the Philippines.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not clarify whether the two ministers had met. According to Yomiuri Shimbun, Chinese Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Lin Jian stated at a press conference that there was no understanding of a meeting being set, but did not confirm whether the brief exchange reported by Japan actually occurred.
On the same day as his encounter with Motegi, Wang stated at the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting that the revival of militarism must not be tolerated. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying, who attended the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Wang's place, also urged regional countries to deeply reflect on historical lessons. While China remained reticent about the brief exchange, it continued to criticize Japan publicly.
The backdrop for Wang's brief contact is linked to the United States. A Chinese state media official told Yomiuri Shimbun that the meeting was likely intended to save face for the U.S., which is concerned about the deterioration of Japan-China relations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked on July 22 in Manila that the Japan-China relationship is showing "worrisome trends." Yomiuri Shimbun interpreted that China, prioritizing stability in its relations with the U.S., responded to Japan's overtures for contact.
However, analysts caution against viewing this encounter as a sign of improving relations. Nihon Keizai Shimbun assessed that improving Japan-China relations is not a high priority for Chinese diplomacy. With the U.S. and China engaging in direct high-level talks, the need for Japan to act as a mediator has diminished. Since last November, the only notable ministerial-level contact between Japan and China occurred in May when Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and Wang Wentao, China's Minister of Commerce, spoke briefly while standing.
Domestic political situations in both countries also complicate the path to improved relations. According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the Chinese leadership, facing the 2027 Communist Party Congress, risks domestic criticism of "submissive diplomacy" if it shows a conciliatory attitude toward Japan. Similarly, the Takaichi administration in Japan must consider the support of conservative factions as it prepares to revise three security-related documents by the end of the year, making it difficult to adopt a flexible stance toward China.
Japan is looking ahead to the next opportunity for contact at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, scheduled for November. An official from the Japanese government stated to Asahi Shimbun that they hope to gauge China's stance leading up to November. However, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official cautioned that advocating for improved relations with President Xi Jinping carries significant risks within China, making a thaw in Japan-China relations unlikely.
There is also growing concern within the Japanese government that U.S.-China relations and trade negotiations could proceed without Japan's involvement. Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that there is a possibility of three meetings between U.S. and Chinese leaders, including the APEC summit in November. It remains uncertain whether the brief exchange in Manila will lead to a Japan-China summit.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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