Tokyo, Aug 25:
A cross-party delegation of Japanese lawmakers travelled to Beijing on Monday in an attempt to repair strained relations with China after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan triggered a sharp diplomatic fallout.
The delegation includes Gaku Hashimoto of Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, along with representatives from the opposition Komeito and Centrist Reform Alliance. The lawmakers are scheduled to meet Chinese Communist Party officials during their visit, which will continue until Thursday.
Relations deteriorated after Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan and potentially justify the use of force. Beijing strongly objected to the remarks, viewing them as crossing a red line over Taiwan.
Japanese lawmakers said communication channels between the two countries had been severely disrupted and expressed hope that the visit could help restart dialogue. The tensions have also begun affecting economic relations between the two Asian powers.