Japan’s Foreign Minister Voices Concerns Over Growing Chinese Military Activities

Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo has escalated in recent years, driven by issues such as China’s seafood ban and detention of a Japanese national.

Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not depicted) on the sidelines of the APEC Summit Ministerial Meeting (AMM) at the Convention Center in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 14, 2024. Cris Bouroncle/AFP via Getty Images

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Dec. 25 raised Tokyo’s significant concerns, including the Chinese military’s increased activities in disputed waters, during his first visit to Beijing since taking office in October.

After a nearly three-hour meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Iwaya told reporters he used the opportunity to relay Japan’s worries over several issues, including the “situation in the East China Sea” and the Chinese regime’s “unilateral exploitation of resources.”