“Watch for Changes in Wording”: China’s Change of Heart Hidden in the Iwaya (岩屋)–Wang Yi (王毅) Talks, and the “Concession” Signals China Has Shown Toward Improving “the Worst Japan-China Relations”

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 28 September that Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) had met with former Foreign Minister Iwaya Takuya (岩屋毅), and it was reported that China had presented conditions for improving Japan-China relations, which had been described as the worst in history. Wang is a senior Communist Party official who is fluent in Japanese and has served as ambassador to Japan, making his meeting with Iwaya a surprise for Japan.

China had previously called for Japan's remarks to be withdrawn, but in the latest wording this was changed from “withdrawal” to “rectification,” shifting to a demand that Japan rectify its position on remarks concerning a Taiwan contingency. At a subsequent Foreign Ministry press conference, it was also stressed that, if Japan wants to improve China-Japan relations, it should observe the four political documents and commitments and protect the foundation of the relationship through its actions.

The four political documents are the 1972 Joint Communiqué of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China, the 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China, the 1998 Joint Declaration, and the 2008 Joint Statement on a Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests. Regarding Taiwan, the 1972 Joint Communiqué positions Taiwan as “an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China” and states that Japan should understand and respect China's position.

The latest development is viewed as part of a series of efforts to ease tensions in Japan-China relations over remarks concerning the situation in Taiwan, representing a change toward “rectification.” Attention is focused on future developments and any additional specific agreements.