Japanese Lawmakers Travel to China Amid Tensions
A group of Japanese lawmakers has gone to China.
The group has people from different political parties. This is called a bipartisan group.
They want to talk with Chinese Communist Party leaders.
One lawmaker said they want to find a way to start good talks again.
Japan and China have bad relations right now.
This is because Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi talked about Taiwan.
She spoke about what could happen if there is trouble near Taiwan.
China did not like her words.
Also, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made comments about Okinawa.
He said China has a deep connection to the Ryukyu Islands.
The Ryukyu Islands are part of Okinawa in Japan today.
Some people think Xi's words question Japan's control of Okinawa.
There are also questions about islands called Batanes, near the Philippines.
People say China's words about these islands are strange and worrying.
The lawmakers' trip is happening during this difficult time.
Vocabulary5 words
- lawmakers
- people who make laws; politicians
- political parties
- groups of people with the same political ideas
- bipartisan
- including two or more different political parties
- connection
- a link between two things
- control
- the power to rule a place
Quiz
Answer key
1. A group of Japanese lawmakers 2. Because of remarks about Taiwan 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A group of Japanese _____ has gone to China.
The group has people from different _____. This is called a bipartisan group.
They want to talk with Chinese Communist Party _____.
Japan and China have bad _____ right now.
This is because Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi talked about _____.
China did not like her _____.
Also, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made comments about _____.
He said China has a deep connection to the Ryukyu _____.
Some people think Xi's words question Japan's _____ of Okinawa.
There are also questions about islands called _____, near the Philippines.