Japanese Foreign Minister to Visit China on 1st to Discuss Fukushima Contaminated Water Discharge

Visiting Beijing for Two Days from the 1st
Demand for Release of Japanese Nationals and Discussion on Contaminated Water Discharge
Likely to Discuss International Issues Including Territorial Disputes

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa announced that he will visit Beijing, China, for two days starting next month on the 1st to hold talks with Qin Gang, Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor. This marks the first visit by a Japanese foreign minister to China in 3 years and 3 months since 2019.

According to Jiji Press on the 31st (local time), Foreign Minister Hayashi plans to convey Japan's position on the issue of the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean during the talks with Minister Qin.

Hayashi Yoshimasa, Japanese Foreign Minister
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At a press conference announcing his visit to China that day, he said, "It is increasingly important to build a constructive and stable relationship where we assert what needs to be asserted, demand responsible behavior, and cooperate on common challenges," adding, "I will engage in frank and deep discussions to exchange opinions with China."

In addition, Foreign Minister Hayashi is also expected to discuss the early release of a Japanese man in his 50s who was detained in Beijing this month. On the 26th, Kyodo News reported that the detained man is an employee of the major Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma and is suspected of being involved in espionage activities.

Foreign Minister Hayashi stated, "We have already presented Japan's firm stance to the Chinese side," and added, "We will properly explain Japan's position on this and a series of other issues."

Furthermore, the international situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu Islands in Chinese), over which the two countries have a territorial dispute, and the East China Sea are also expected to be topics of discussion at the talks. Foreign Minister Hayashi said, "There are many challenges and issues between China and Japan," and "We will have in-depth exchanges of views to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship."

After completing the two-day visit to China, Foreign Minister Hayashi will visit Brussels, Belgium, from the 3rd to the 6th of next month to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting.