Korea, China in talks to hold vice FM dialogue next month amid China-Japan tensions

Senior diplomats from Korea and China are expected to hold talks on bilateral relations and other shared issues next month, sources said Tuesday, amid rising tensions between China and Japan following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about Taiwan. The two countries are in talks to arrange a "strategic dialogue" between First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Ma Zhaoxu, China's executive vice foreign minister, in Beijing in December, according to sources familiar with the matter. If held, the talks would serve as a follow-up to the recent summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting in Gyeongju on Nov. 1. Xi made a state visit to Korea, his first trip in 11 years. The vice ministers could discuss the escalating tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, after Takaichi suggested that a military attack on Taiwan could prompt a response by Japan's Self-Defense Forces, calling it a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. China has strongly denounced Japan and urged TakaichiWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times