China and Japan give conflicting accounts of ministers’ ASEAN meeting

China and Japan have offered different versions of whether their foreign ministers spoke during last week’s ASEAN meetings in the Philippines, highlighting the continued strain in relations between the two neighboring countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said after the regional gathering that he had briefly spoken with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when the two crossed paths during the event. According to Motegi, the short conversation included discussion about bilateral relations, which Japan considers an important step in maintaining communication despite ongoing tensions.

However, China’s Foreign Ministry rejected that account. Speaking at a regular press briefing on Monday, spokesperson Lin Jian said Wang Yi had no meeting scheduled with the Japanese side during his visit to Manila and insisted that no informal conversation or exchange took place at the venue.

The conflicting statements reflect the growing diplomatic divide between Beijing and Tokyo, whose relationship has worsened significantly since last November. The decline followed comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, which China strongly condemned.

Japan has expressed interest in improving ties with China and continues to support dialogue at every level. Motegi said maintaining communication is essential because both countries play a major role in preserving peace and stability across the region. Although he described his interaction with Wang as a discussion on bilateral relations, Japanese media reported that the exchange was limited to greetings and brief pleasantries.

Prime Minister Takaichi said on Monday that contacts between the two governments remain active through various diplomatic channels, including the exchange Motegi referred to during the ASEAN meeting.

The current tensions stem from remarks Takaichi made shortly after becoming prime minister. During a parliamentary session, she was asked whether a Chinese military blockade or attack on Taiwan could trigger Japan’s collective self defense policy. She replied that such a situation could threaten Japan’s survival and therefore might meet the legal conditions for military involvement alongside an ally, most likely the United States.

China viewed those comments as crossing a major diplomatic red line. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and strongly opposes any statement or action that it believes supports Taiwan’s independence or suggests foreign military involvement in a future conflict. Taiwan, meanwhile, governs itself independently despite China’s territorial claims.

Although Takaichi later said she would avoid discussing specific military scenarios in future parliamentary debates, she has refused to withdraw her original remarks. Her position has continued to frustrate Beijing and has made efforts to restore stable relations more difficult.

The dispute has affected more than diplomacy. Economic ties have also been impacted, with reports of fewer Chinese tourists visiting Japan and growing concern in both countries over each other’s expanding military capabilities. The disagreement over what happened during the ASEAN meeting has become another sign of the deep mistrust that continues to shape relations between Asia’s two largest economies.