A delegation of Japanese lawmakers visiting Beijing was told by a senior Chinese Communist Party official that China will not reconsider its stance toward Japan unless Tokyo revises its position on Taiwan. The visit, the first by such a cross-party group since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November remarks on possible Japanese military intervention in a Taiwan crisis, took place amid persistent strains in relations between the two nations.

Lu Kang, deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, conveyed to the Japanese lawmakers on Thursday that China-Japan relations are currently facing serious challenges rooted in Japan’s stance on Taiwan. Lu urged the Japanese delegation to handle the Taiwan issue sincerely and in line with the one-China principle, which asserts Taiwan as part of China’s territory and recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government.

Takaichi’s earlier declaration, describing potential Chinese military action around Taiwan as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, escalated tensions. This phrase carries legal implications allowing Japan the option of collective self-defense, including military response. Beijing strongly condemned her comments and followed with diplomatic and economic measures aimed at pressuring Japan to renounce the position.

Leading the delegation, Shinichi Isa of the Centrist Reform Alliance reported that Lu made clear China has no intention of altering its policy unless Japan revises its approach to the Taiwan issue. Isa described the meeting as a “difficult exchange of views” but noted it was a significant step toward future dialogue.

The group, also including Liberal Democratic Party member Gaku Hashimoto and Komeito’s Yudai Kawamura, pressed for the early release of Japanese nationals detained by Chinese authorities and advocated for lifting export restrictions imposed on rare earths and other materials. The delegation’s visit was conducted at the invitation of the Chinese government and occurred as bilateral ties remain at a low point, with little indication of an imminent improvement.