Japan’s Kishida says talks with China key to regional peace amid rising maritime tensions

He emphasised the need to ‘maintain stable and constructive relations’ between Tokyo and Beijing as the latter steps up military activity in the East China Sea

The prime minister added despite frosty ties, dialogue with South Korea is also important considering the worsening security situation in the region

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:30am, 22 Jun 2022

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday that talks with China’s leader are key to regional and international peace and stability amid growing tensions over territorial disputes and Beijing’s increased military activity around Japan.

“It is important to maintain stable and constructive relations” between Japan and China, Kishida said at a party leaders’ debate in Tokyo ahead of July 10 parliamentary elections.

Asked about a possible summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in September, Kishida said nothing has been decided, but “Dialogue is important. I hope to think in concrete terms.”

Japan sees China’s increasingly assertive military activity in the East and South China Seas as a threat to some of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

Tokyo is especially concerned about Chinese military and coastguard activity in the East China Sea near a group of disputed islands known in Japan as the Senkakus but in China as the Diaoyus.

Japan’s government said Tuesday it protested to Beijing after finding that China has set up a new oil drilling rig in a contested area of the East China Sea.