Tokyo: Japan has formally protested against China over a statement that misrepresented remarks made by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during his recent meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The dispute centers on an announcement from China’s foreign ministry that attributed comments to Ishiba which Japan says were never made.
According to the Chinese statement issued on Friday, Ishiba allegedly expressed that Japan "respects" China’s positions on historical matters and Taiwan. The statement also quoted Wang as urging Japan to uphold political commitments on these sensitive issues and to send a “responsible signal” to the world regarding history, the people, and the future.
However, Japan’s foreign ministry swiftly refuted this claim, stating on Saturday that Ishiba had not made such remarks and calling on China to correct the record by removing the statement.
"We have lodged a protest with the Chinese side and immediately requested the removal of the announcement, as it does not reflect the facts," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters on Monday. He added that Japan found it “regrettable” that China had released inaccurate information but did not disclose how Beijing responded to the protest.
Japan’s foreign ministry clarified that during the meeting, Ishiba had instead focused on key bilateral issues, including tensions in the East China Sea, the early release of detained Japanese nationals in China, and lifting Beijing’s import restrictions on Japanese seafood and agricultural products.
Despite Japan’s request, China’s foreign ministry maintained on Monday that the meeting was "important and beneficial," emphasizing mutual respect between the two nations. Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, responding to Japan’s protest, questioned, "Isn't it normal to respect each other's positions in state-to-state relations?"
As of Monday afternoon, the disputed statement remained on China’s foreign ministry website, despite Japan’s demand for its removal.
