Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Ministry has reacted sharply to a statement issued by China’s Foreign Ministry that suggested Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru had agreed with Chinese views.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry was blunt in its rebuttal: “Regarding the courtesy call on Prime Minister Ishiba by Mr. Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China on March 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China issued a statement on the same day, stating that Prime Minister Ishiba made a comment to the effect that ‘Japan respects the position detailed by the Chinese side.’ No such statement was ever made.”

Japan has protested to China over the claim and requested that the press release be deleted immediately, as “such a statement does not reflect the truth.”

“It is regrettable that such a factually incorrect statement was issued,” the statement from Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.

It explained that during the courtesy call by Foreign Minister Wang, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the need to reduce concerns and issues between Japan and China, such as the situation in the East China Sea, ensuring the safety and security of Japanese nationals in China, effecting the early release of Japanese nationals detained in China, the early lifting of import restrictions on Japanese seafood products and issues related to agricultural products such as beef. 

“Prime Minister Ishiba did not make the statement as claimed by the Chinese side,” the Japanese side stated.