Japan-China Relations
Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
July 10, 2025
On July 10 commencing at 11:20 a.m. (0:20 p.m. JST on July 10) for approximately 45 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Malaysia to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, held a Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. The overview is as follows.
- The two foreign ministers confirmed that Japan and China have held discussions on various range of topics since their mutual visits in December last year and March this year toward resolving several specific issues. Despite the remaining unsolved challenges, they shared the intention to advance the Japan-China relations forward by strengthening their communication.
- Regarding China's export controls on rare earth and related magnets, Minister Iwaya expressed serious concern over the significant impact on Japanese companies and strongly called on China to expedite its approval process for export license applications. In response, Minister Wang Yi stated that normal demand for Japanese companies will be secured as long as they comply with relevant regulations and follow the necessary procedures.
- Regarding China’s import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products, the two foreign ministers confirmed that there has been steady progress in the relevant process, including China’s announcement regarding the resumption of imports of Japanese aquatic products. Minster Iwaya called on the Chinese side for the early lifting of the remaining import restrictions on ten-prefecture products. In addition, in order to expedite the process of resuming exports of Japanese beef to China, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on the early entry into force of the Agreement on Cooperation in Animal Health and Quarantine.
- Minister Iwaya expressed Japan's serious concerns over the deteriorating situation in the seas and airspace around Japan, such as the situation in the East China Sea, including those situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, citing incidents, for instance the intrusion of a China coast guard vessel’s helicopter into Japan’s territorial airspace, a Chinese military aircraft’s close approach toward a Self-Defense Force aircraft, the expansion of the aircraft carrier’s operating range and China’s unilateral development of natural resources in the East China Sea, and strongly urged the Chinese side to address these issues. Minister Iwaya pointed out that the cases of Japanese nationals being detained are one of the biggest obstacles to improving people-to-people exchanges and national sentiment between Japan and China and strongly called for the early release of detained Japanese nationals.
- Minister Iwaya stated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is important for the international community, including Japan, and China’s large-scale military drills around Taiwan is incompatible with this. Minister Iwaya also opposed attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. In addition, Minister Iwaya expressed Japan’s serious concern over the situation in the South China Sea.
- The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the response to North Korea, including the nuclear and missile issues and the abduction issue. They also discussed the situation in the Middle East, confirmed the importance of resolving issues through dialogue, and shared the view that Japan and China will continue to make diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation.