Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan said on the 5th that she is open to dialogue with China.
On Japan-China relations that day, Prime Minister Takaichi said, "Because there are various pending issues and challenges between Japan and China, communication is important," adding, "We are open to various dialogues with China and have not closed the door."
Addressing criticism that relations with China are frosty, she said, "Since taking office, we have consistently maintained the policy of comprehensively advancing a relationship of strategic, mutually beneficial cooperation with China and building a constructive and stable relationship."
Prime Minister Takaichi repeated the existing position, saying, "Based on this stance, we will continue communication with the Chinese side and will respond appropriately from the perspective of the national interest going forward."
Japan has taken a confrontational stance toward China since Prime Minister Takaichi suggested in the Diet in Nov. last year that Japan would intervene "in the event of a contingency in Taiwan." Since then, China has not only issued an exit ban on Japanese nationals but also a radar lock-on incident targeting a Japanese fighter jet has occurred, heightening tensions between the two countries.
Meanwhile, regarding the United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro through a military operation, Prime Minister Takaichi refrained from a specific assessment, saying, "We will pursue diplomatic efforts toward the restoration of democracy in Venezuela and stabilization of the situation."