Japan, China meet to discuss maritime concerns

• Senior Japanese and Chinese government officials met on 10 Apr to discuss maritime concerns in disputed waters in the East China Sea as Beijing conducted wargames around Taiwan.
• Part of a regular round of talks that began in 2012, the meeting comes as Chinese warplanes and warships simulated strikes against Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States and met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
• Ahead of the talks, Hong Liang, the chief of the Chinese delegation, said he was seeking co-operation in the maritime area with Japan, and expected an “in-depth conversation” with his counterparts.
• A top Japanese government spokesperson said Japan had been following China’s military drills around Taiwan consistently and “with great interest”.
• “The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only important for the security of Japan, but also for the stability of the international community as a whole,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said.
• In Mar 23, China and Japan set up a military hotline to help defuse any air and sea incidents in the contested waters.

External Link : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/japan-china-maritime-concerns-military-drills-attack-taiwan-3407601