China-Japan ties: Contaminated water under the bridge
China is trying to make nice with Japan.
On Monday, top diplomat Wang Yi met with Japan's national security adviser, Akiba Takeo, in Beijing.
- The pair met in advance of a meeting between Xi Jinping and Japan’s new Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru due to take place on the sidelines of the APEC Summit later this month.
Some context: There are signs of a thaw in China-Japan relations.
- In September, the two countries struck an agreement on the discharge of contaminated seawater from the Fukushima nuclear plant, paving the way for the resumption of Japanese seafood exports to China.
Wang told Akiba that the two sides should “build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship” and view each other as partners rather than threats (MoFA).
- Following the talks, Akiba said Japan and China would pursue “strategic and mutually beneficial ties” (Nikkei).
Get smart: China’s friendly overtures to Japan are strategically timed.
- A new government in Tokyo gives Beijing cover to improve ties without appearing weak.
- China is positioning itself to exploit any potential rifts between Washington and Tokyo should the world get a second dose of “America First” foreign policy under Donald Trump.