Exclusive | China rallies neighbours against Japan in rare meeting. Will it work?

Multiple sources familiar with the matter told the South China Morning Post that China had summoned most Southeast Asian ambassadors or their deputies late last year, framing the meeting as a channel to hear the region’s views on Takaichi’s comments.

But at the meeting – chaired by a deputy director general-level official – China also urged individual countries to stand with Beijing and support its position on the Japanese prime minister’s comments, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary, fiercely protested against the comments, viewing them as a sign of Tokyo’s desire to return to its pre-war path of militarism.