China urges Japan not to back US tech restriction

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday urged his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi not to "help a villain do evil" by backing the US tech restrictions against Beijing as the two ministers held rare talks here amid China's increasing criticism against Tokyo's backing for Washington-led Indo-Pacific strategy. The United States "used bullying tactics to brutally suppress the Japanese semiconductor industry, and now it is repeating its old tricks against China", Qin told Hayashi. "Japan has suffered that pain, and should not help a villain do evil. The containment will only further stimulate China's determination to become self-reliant," Qin said, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. “Peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation are the only correct choices for China-Japan relations,” he said.  Qin also warned Japan not to interfere in Taiwan affairs and to properly handle nuclear waste from the Fukushima disaster.

In the case of a Japanese citizen suspected of engaging in espionage activities in China, Qin stressed China would handle it following relevant laws. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the cooperation between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the reform of the United Nations Security Council. China opposes the Quad comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia, saying that it is aimed to contain its rise. “Peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation are the only correct choices for China-Japan relations,” he said.

This was the first visit by the Japanese Foreign Minister to China since 2019. China and Japan have a long-festering dispute over uninhabited East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China. The islands are called as the Senkakus by Japan, while China named them as Diaoyu. Taiwan also claims the islands but has forged agreements with Japan to avoid any conflict as Japan maintains close defence ties with Taipei.