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Gaku Hashimoto and a cross-party delegation of Japanese lawmakers travel to Beijing to repair strained relations with China

A cross-party delegation of Japanese lawmakers, including Gaku Hashimoto of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has arrived in Beijing to conduct the first official consultations with senior Chinese Communist Party officials since bilateral ties soured late last year. The mission aims to restore communication channels that were severed following comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding a potential military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. China reacted to Takaichi's remarks by tightening trade restrictions and warning citizens against traveling to Japan. The delegation, which also includes Shinichi Isa of the Centrist Reform Alliance and Yudai Kawamura of Komeito, seeks to find a way to restart dialogue. Shinichi Isa noted that communication has been cut off in all areas, describing the current state of relations as the worst since 1972. While the visit is considered a semi-official effort for crisis management, it does not necessarily indicate a full thawing of relations. Takaichi has not retracted her comments, but the visit serves as a critical step in navigating the diplomatic fallout.

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