TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Senior Japanese and Chinese foreign ministry officials met in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss comments by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on Taiwan, but the talks ended without a breakthrough, Nikkei Asia reported.

Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan’s Foreign Ministry, met with Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asian Affairs Department. When asked about the outcome, Liu said he was “not satisfied,” according to CNA.

The meeting followed Takaichi’s remarks earlier this month, suggesting that Chinese military action against Taiwan could constitute an “existential threat,” which could prompt Japan to consider military responses. China has called for Takaichi to retract her comments.

Kanai said Japan does not plan to retract the remarks and criticized a now-deleted social media post by Xue Jian, China’s consul general in Osaka, which reportedly stated, “we have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has lunged at us without a moment’s hesitation.” China said the post targeted provocative statements regarding the Taiwan Strait rather than Takaichi personally.

Kanai also urged Beijing to ensure the safety of Japanese in China, following Chinese advisories discouraging travel to Japan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said Takaichi’s remarks “have caused fundamental damage to the political foundation of China-Japan relations” and led to public criticism in China. Mao added that China urged Japan to retract the remarks and to maintain the political basis of bilateral relations.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stressed the importance of continued communication between the two governments, including public and private sector cooperation. He noted that Beijing’s restrictions on interpersonal exchanges could affect constructive relations.

The dispute could affect economic ties, as Chinese travel advisories have contributed to declines in tourism, study exchanges, and business visits to Japan. China is Japan’s largest trading partner, and a significant drop in Chinese tourism could reduce Japan’s economic output by up to NT$443 billion (US$14.2 billion), according to Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on a Radio Nikkei podcast that Japan’s assessment of existential threats remains unchanged. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara emphasized that Japan continues to pursue peaceful dialogue on Taiwan-related issues.