China has approved Japan's new acting consul general in the southwestern city of Chongqing, a Japanese government source said on Wednesday. The move comes about eight months after the post was left vacant amid bilateral disagreements related to Taiwan.
According to the source, the approval is seen as a positive step toward easing tensions in the two countries' relations, which have grown complicated since disputes erupted over Taiwan. The Japanese government nominated a veteran diplomat for the role, and China has officially given its consent.
The position of Japan's consul general in Chongqing had been vacant since around late last year, following a deterioration in Tokyo-Beijing ties over sovereignty and regional security issues. Chongqing is one of the major economic hubs in western China, hosting numerous Japanese businesses.
Analysts suggest that China's approval of this appointment could signal a mutual desire on both sides to manage conflicts and maintain dialogue channels at the local level, despite ongoing political tensions at higher levels. However, there has been no official comment from Beijing regarding the decision.
Previously, both Japan and China have repeatedly emphasized the importance of stabilizing bilateral relations, even as significant differences persist in their approaches to Taiwan and other security and trade matters. The appointment of the new acting consul general is expected to boost economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries in the Chongqing region and neighboring provinces.
