Japan has lodged an official protest with China over a statement that it claims misquoted Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s comments during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday. Japan’s top government spokesperson confirmed the protest on Monday.
China’s foreign ministry announcement on Friday alleged that Ishiba had stated that Japan "respects" the positions of the Chinese side as outlined by Wang. According to the Chinese statement, Wang urged Japan to "fulfil important political commitments on historical issues and the Taiwan question," adding that Tokyo should "send the right signal to the world with a responsible attitude towards history, the people and the future."
However, Japan’s foreign ministry refuted the claim on Saturday, stating that “no such statement was ever made” by PM Ishiba. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference, “We've protested to the Chinese side and immediately requested the removal of the announcement, stating that it was not factual.” While he did not reveal details of the Chinese response, Hayashi expressed regret that the inaccurate announcement had been issued.
During the meeting with Wang, Ishiba had reportedly emphasized the importance of reducing tensions and addressing key issues between the two nations. His remarks included calls for easing concerns over the situation in the East China Sea, securing the early release of Japanese nationals detained in China, and lifting import restrictions on Japan’s marine and agricultural products.
Despite Japan’s formal protest, the contentious statement remains on the website of China’s foreign ministry. The Japanese government is urging Beijing to delete the incorrect material to prevent further misunderstanding between the two countries.
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