Chinese, Japanese officials hold talks in Beijing amid tensions over Taiwan

- Latest diplomatic row began with remarks on Taiwan by Japanese Premier Sanae Takaichi

ISTANBUL

Senior officials from China and Japan on Tuesday held talks to calm tensions after remarks on Taiwan by Japan’s prime minister triggered a backlash.

Masaaki Kanai, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian affairs chief, held talks with his Chinese counterpart Liu in Beijing.

Premier Sanae Takaichi said on Nov. 7 that any Chinese military action against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, could qualify as a "survival-threatening situation," enabling Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.

Beijing slammed the statement, urging Tokyo to retract the remarks.

After her remarks, Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian also wrote on US social media company X that he would "cut a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation," triggering a protest by Tokyo.

According to Kyodo News, during his talks with Liu, Masaaki lodged a fresh protest with Beijing over the social media post, which has since been deleted.

Japanese business leader seeks talks, solution

About Tuesday's meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters that Beijing "once again lodged a serious protest over the wrongful remarks" of Takaichi with the Japanese side.

The remarks by the Japanese premier "seriously violate international law," said Mao, stressing that Tokyo should "stop making provocations on issues concerning China."

Mao said Takaichi's remarks "seriously violate" the spirit of the political documents between China and Japan and "cause fundamental damage to the political foundation."

“China solemnly urges Japan to retract its erroneous remarks,” she stressed.

Amid the tensions, Japanese business leader Yoshinobu Tsutsui called for “constructive dialogue toward a solution” with Beijing, “as many (Japanese) companies are active in China.”

China has called on its citizens to avoid visiting Japan, while Japan's top government spokesman, Minoru Kihara, on Tuesday stressed that Tokyo is "open to all kinds of dialogue" with Beijing.

In Beijing on Tuesday, Japanese diplomat Masaaki rejected the basis of China's travel alert, saying that Japan’s public safety situation “is not deteriorating.”

Separately, Japan's Embassy in Beijing called on Japanese nationals in China "to work to secure their safety ... in view of the situation, including local media reports about the recent bilateral ties.”

Meanwhile, Beijing said Chinese Premier Li Qiang does not plan to meet with Takaichi in South Africa, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders' summit this weekend.