China's Top Diplomat Warns Japan, Presses South Korea on Taiwan

China's foreign minister used a call with South Korea's top diplomat to criticize Japan and reaffirm Beijing's stance on Taiwan. The call comes just days before a planned presidential summit between China and South Korea. In the Wednesday phone conversation, Wang Yi told South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong that "certain political forces in Japan" were trying to "reverse the course of history." He did not name specific Japanese politicians. Wang linked this historical issue to Taiwan. He argued that Japan's past actions should make it support China's position on the island. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory. The Chinese diplomat asked Seoul to handle Taiwan-related issues with "prudence." He stated that respecting China's sovereignty over Taiwan is the foundation for stable relations between the two countries. This call is seen as an effort to align South Korea with China's views ahead of high-level talks. It also highlights ongoing tensions between China and Japan over history and regional security.