Diplomatic snub? China and Japan clash over ASEAN encounter

China and Japan have offered conflicting accounts of whether their foreign ministers interacted during last week's ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, exposing the depth of diplomatic strains between the two neighbours.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said after the meeting that he had briefly spoken with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, after the two crossed paths at the gathering in the Philippines. According to Motegi, the exchange included a discussion on bilateral relations, though Japanese media later described it as largely limited to greetings and pleasantries.

Beijing, however, has firmly rejected that version of events.


“Let me make it clear once again that during his visit to Manila, Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not have a meeting with the Japanese side on his schedule, nor did any brief exchanges take place on the site,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during Monday's regular press briefing.

The contradictory narratives underscore the widening diplomatic rift between the two countries, whose ties have deteriorated sharply since November after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks about Taiwan that drew strong objections from Beijing.

Long shadows

Japan has signalled that it wants to reopen channels of communication with China, but Beijing has shown little willingness to engage, reflecting the lingering fallout from Takaichi's comments.

The diplomatic chill has spilled into other areas, including weaker tourism from China to Japan and growing concerns in both countries over each other's expanding military capabilities.

“As we have repeatedly noted, Japan is open to dialogue at all levels, and that I believe it is extremely important that we continue our dialogue as both Japan and China hold a major responsibility for regional peace,” Motegi said last week.

Prime Minister Takaichi maintained on Monday that communication between the two governments remains active through multiple channels, including Motegi's interaction with Wang.

The dispute stems from comments Takaichi made in parliament shortly after taking office in November. Responding to a question about whether a Chinese blockade or military action against Taiwan could trigger Japan's collective self-defence policy, she said the scenario could potentially meet the required conditions.

“If it involves the use of warships and military actions, it could by all means become a survival-threatening situation,” she said.

China viewed the statement as crossing one of its diplomatic red lines on Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. Chinese authorities oppose any statements or actions they believe lend support to what they describe as Taiwan independence forces.

Although Takaichi has refused to withdraw her remarks, she later told the same parliamentary committee that she would refrain from discussing specific self-defence scenarios involving Taiwan in the future.

(With AP inputs)