Japan’s Foreign Minister Expresses ‘Serious Concerns’ to Chinese Counterpart

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi during a joint news conference with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (not pictured) following the eighth Japan-UK Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on Feb. 8, 2020. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi clashed with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a telephone conversation on April 5 over a range of issues, ahead of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s visit to Washington to strengthen Japan–U.S. ties on April 16.

Motegi criticized China’s behavior in disputed waters, the human rights situation in Xinjiang, and issues in Hong Kong in a 90-minute phone discussion with Wang.