Japanese Lawmakers Travel to China Amid Tensions
A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers has traveled to China for talks.
The group includes members from different political parties in Japan's parliament.
They are trying to arrange meetings with senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party.
One lawmaker said the goal is to find a way to start dialogue again between the two countries.
The trip comes at a difficult time for Japan-China relations.
Ties have become tense after Prime Minister Takaichi made remarks about a possible contingency involving Taiwan.
A contingency means a serious situation that could happen in the future, such as a military conflict.
China strongly criticized her comments.
At the same time, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China has a "deep connection" with the Ryukyu Islands.
The Ryukyu Islands are the group of islands that make up Okinawa, a Japanese prefecture today.
Some observers believe this comment raises questions about Japan's sovereignty over Okinawa.
Sovereignty means a country's right to fully control its own land.
There are also reports of differing views about who the Batanes Islands, which belong to the Philippines, should belong to.
Some commentators describe China's comments on these territorial matters as an unsettling move, suggesting a hidden long-term plan.
The Japanese lawmakers' visit to Beijing is seen as an attempt to ease tensions during this uncertain period.
It is not yet clear what results the meetings will bring.
Vocabulary7 words
- bipartisan
- including members from two or more political parties
- lawmakers
- people who create or change laws, usually politicians
- parliament
- the group of people who make laws for a country
- dialogue
- a conversation between two sides to solve a problem
- contingency
- a possible future event, especially something bad
- prefecture
- a large area or region in Japan, like a state
- sovereignty
- a country's full right to control its own land
Quiz
Answer key
1. To arrange meetings with Communist Party officials and open dialogue 2. Remarks by PM Takaichi about a Taiwan contingency 3. Japan's sovereignty over Okinawa
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A bipartisan group of Japanese _____ has traveled to China for talks.
The group includes members from different political parties in Japan's _____.
They are trying to arrange meetings with senior officials of the Chinese Communist _____.
One lawmaker said the goal is to find a way to start _____ again between the two countries.
Ties have become tense after Prime Minister Takaichi made remarks about a possible _____ involving Taiwan.
China strongly _____ her comments.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said China has a "deep connection" with the _____ Islands.
Some observers believe this comment raises questions about Japan's _____ over Okinawa.
There are also reports of differing views about the _____ Islands, which belong to the Philippines.
Some commentators describe China's comments on these territorial matters as an unsettling _____.