Top Chinese diplomat tells ex-Japanese foreign minister ties must be ‘normalized’

Former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (left) shakes hands with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, during a meeting in Beijing on Monday. | CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY HOMEPAGE / VIA JIJI

Sep 29, 2026

Former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has met with China’s top diplomat in the first official meeting between a Japanese politician and such a high-ranking Chinese minister since ties plummeted following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks last November about a Taiwan crisis.

At their meeting Monday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iwaya that bilateral relations are facing “a severe situation” and must again be “normalized,” according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

“The pressing task is to correct the erroneous words and deeds of its leaders on the Taiwan question as soon as possible,” Wang said.

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