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In Security Meeting, Japan and China Inch Toward Mending Ties Japan and China Inch Toward Mending Ties
(35 minutes later)
TOKYO — In a small step toward a possible thaw in relations, officials from Japan and China on Thursday held their first meeting on security issues in four years, discussing the creation of a hotline to ease tensions in the East China Sea. TOKYO — In a small step toward a possible thaw in relations, officials from Japan and China on Thursday held their first meeting on security issues in four years, discussing the creation of a hotline to ease tensions in the East China Sea.
It was the first meeting since January 2011 between defense officials and diplomats from the two Asian powers, which have been divided in recent years by emotional disputes over history and territory.It was the first meeting since January 2011 between defense officials and diplomats from the two Asian powers, which have been divided in recent years by emotional disputes over history and territory.
According to officials, a priority in the Tokyo talks was to find ways — like a hotline or a similar phone connection — to communicate with each other on short notice to avoid clashes at sea, or at least to prevent them from spiraling into a bigger conflict.According to officials, a priority in the Tokyo talks was to find ways — like a hotline or a similar phone connection — to communicate with each other on short notice to avoid clashes at sea, or at least to prevent them from spiraling into a bigger conflict.
Preventing an accidental war has become a pressing issue as Chinese and Japanese armed ships and aircraft have frequently challenged each other near uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by both nations. So far, these encounters have remained peaceful, but experts have warned that a single miscalculation could escalate into a military confrontation.Preventing an accidental war has become a pressing issue as Chinese and Japanese armed ships and aircraft have frequently challenged each other near uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by both nations. So far, these encounters have remained peaceful, but experts have warned that a single miscalculation could escalate into a military confrontation.
The officials also said they hoped that the meeting would help improve relations by getting both sides talking, and possibly opening the way for higher-level meetings like one in November between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Xi Jinping of China.The officials also said they hoped that the meeting would help improve relations by getting both sides talking, and possibly opening the way for higher-level meetings like one in November between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Xi Jinping of China.
They said increased dialogue may also help dispel anxiety in Japan about China’s fast-growing military spending, which will rise by 10.1 percent this year. It may also allay concern in China about Mr. Abe’s commitment to 1990s apologies by Japan for its World War II-era invasion of China.They said increased dialogue may also help dispel anxiety in Japan about China’s fast-growing military spending, which will rise by 10.1 percent this year. It may also allay concern in China about Mr. Abe’s commitment to 1990s apologies by Japan for its World War II-era invasion of China.
“It can be said that Japan-China relations appear to be advancing gradually through events” such as the summit meeting in November, Japan’s deputy foreign minister, Shinsuke Sugiyama, said Thursday.“It can be said that Japan-China relations appear to be advancing gradually through events” such as the summit meeting in November, Japan’s deputy foreign minister, Shinsuke Sugiyama, said Thursday.
“But it is a fact that Japan and China have concern about their respective security policies,” he added.“But it is a fact that Japan and China have concern about their respective security policies,” he added.