At the end of February 2023, on the eve of the "Two Sessions" in China, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Kong Yanyou, left his office.Before the departure, the Chinese Embassy made a request for leaving the meeting to the Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, and the Prime Minister's palace refused to become a big topic in Japan.
The former Chinese ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua returned to China, then the then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a lunch meeting; Kong Yanyou also met with the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Prime Minister when he took office.In addition to a few exceptions, the Prime Minister of Japan will be met before the ambassador in Japan.It can be seen that the Japanese government's approach is rare.
It is reported that the Chinese Embassy issued a "request" to the Prime Minister's House in January 2023.However, the Prime Minister's Palace was rejected on the grounds that the schedule could not be arranged, and the Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng met with Ambassador Kong Yanyou.Why did the Japanese not accept this meeting request?Especially in August of this year, the two countries celebrated the 45th anniversary of the conclusion of the peace and friendly treaty of Japan.
The unspecified things between China and Japan accumulate like mountains.For example, in March, some directors of a Japanese pharmaceutical company were detained in China.In addition, Prime Minister Kishida visited Ukraine in March was also condemned by China.However, these are things after March. China made a request in January, and Ambassador Kong had returned to China at the end of February.As for from January and February, there are also military operations made by China, Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima First Nuclear Power Station to deal with wastewater issues, and Chinese reconnaissance balloons were found around Japan.
The Japanese media believes that the reason why the Prime Minister's Office refuses to meet with the Chinese ambassador is "toughness of domestic public opinion". However, from January to February, the phenomenon of "domestic public opinion tough toughness" is not obvious.Japanese public opinion fell to the lowest in China in 2013. After that until today, the ratio of negatively said to China has maintained about 85%, and it has not changed much.To this day, it is not convincing to say that public opinion has deteriorated significantly, because it has deteriorated to the degree that cannot be deteriorated.
The Prime Minister's Mansion did not meet with one of Kong Yanyou. Perhaps it was after the Ukrainian war, the "camp" opposite situation appeared.Japan is the rotating chairman of the Seventh Kingdom Group (G7). He does not want to send an error signal to other developed countries. Perhaps there is also the intention of showing the "clear banner".
In addition, it may be a "peer" problem.Which of the Chinese leaders met them before leaving in office?Before the last Japanese ambassador to China, Yoko Yoko, who has met Chinese chairman Xi Jinping or Prime Minister Li Keqiang?According to public information, there seems to be no.In this way, there is no need to meet with the Chinese ambassador to the Chinese resident in Japan, right?
Although you can imagine that there are reasons in this regard, the author still believes that Japan should meet with the Chinese ambassador to the Chinese ambassador to Japan.If the Japanese Ambassador to China could not meet with the Chinese President or Prime Minister before leaving, the Japanese side should clearly propose to the Chinese side, and then in the principle of equalism, it should not meet the Chinese ambassador.This can be an option, indicating that the Japanese side believes that this etiquette is important and should meet.This will better convey the information than "without meeting".
The more nervous, the more "diplomacy" is needed.If the Japanese side has any concerns about the Chinese side, it should be transmitted to the Chinese side as much as possible; China also needs to consider the principle of peering. While requesting the Japanese side, it should also sort out whether they are in place?
The author is a professor at the University of Tokyo
