Wed Dec 25 12:22:22 UTC 2024: ## Japan Raises Concerns Over China’s Military Buildup During Beijing Meeting
**Beijing, December 25, 2024** – Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed serious concerns to his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, regarding China’s growing military presence during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. This was Iwaya’s first visit to China since assuming his post earlier this year.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry stated that Iwaya voiced specific concerns about the situation in Taiwan, recent military developments, and increased activity in the East China Sea, including around the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in China). He also pressed for the release of Japanese nationals detained in China, citing concerns that the opaque anti-espionage law is deterring Japanese citizens from visiting.
While the meeting also saw agreement to facilitate a return visit by Wang Yi to Japan next year, China’s Foreign Ministry statement made no mention of the military concerns or detained Japanese citizens. Iwaya also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with both agreeing to work towards a stable bilateral relationship.
Despite being major trading partners, relations between China and Japan have been strained by territorial disputes and escalating military spending. Recent incidents, including a Chinese military aircraft’s incursion into Japanese airspace and a Japanese warship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait, have further heightened tensions. China’s ballistic missile test in September also drew strong condemnation from Japan. The ongoing dispute over the release of treated Fukushima nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, though recently seeing a resumption of Japanese seafood imports to China, also remains a point of contention. Historical grievances stemming from Japan’s wartime past continue to complicate relations.
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