Japan asks China to hold 'two-plus-two' security talks
(VOVWORLD) - The Japanese government has suggested to China that they begin holding meetings between their foreign and defense ministers in order to deepen mutual understanding on security issues, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
By offering to hold “two-plus-two” talks, Japan is hoping to de-escalate tensions in the East China Sea, where the countries are in a dispute over the sovereignty of the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, called Diaoyu by China. Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono floated the idea of two-plus-two talks in meetings over the past several months with Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, sources said, adding that the proposal will be discussed on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka next month.