‘Two-faced diplomacy’: China pledges peace, then chases Japan’s fishing boat

Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya had struck an optimistic tone following Saturday’s trilateral meeting with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts, describing the discussions as “a frank exchange of views” and announcing that the three nations had “confirmed that we will promote future-orientated cooperation”.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi appeared to be in agreement, saying in a statement that better communication and collaboration would help the three nations “jointly resist risks” and enhance mutual understanding.

Reflecting on the global challenges that had brought Japan, China and South Korea to “a turning point in history”, Iwaya on Saturday emphasised the urgency of overcoming divisions. “It has become more important than ever to make efforts to overcome division and confrontation through dialogue and cooperation,” he said.

But the goodwill generated by these statements quickly began to evaporate when, less than 24 hours later, Chinese coastguard vessels entered waters near the Diaoyu Islands. The islands, administered by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China, have long been a flashpoint in the region.