Quoting sources the Yomiuri Shimbun on December 23, disclosed that China's Minister of State Security Chen Wenqing visited Japan in late October through early November to meet secretly with senior Japanese officials from the Public Security Intelligence Agency and intelligence authorities, as well as the Foreign Ministry. During the meetings, the two sides discussed cooperating on antiterrorism measures for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 and agreed they would increase exchanges between their intelligence authorities. They also exchanged views on the situation in North Korea. During the meetings, the Japanese side brought up China’s arrest of 12 Japanese citizens on suspicion of spying and other allegations — eight of whom have been indicted. Chen Wenqing maintained China’s official stance that the matter would be dealt with based on domestic laws. The Yomiuri Shimbun said both countries are apparently eager to create a new channel of communication that could function behind the scenes should the diplomatic channel stop functioning if relations again deteriorate over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture or other issues. A communications channel exists between Shotaro Yachi, Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat, and Political Bureau member Yang Jiechi, though their meetings are usually announced.
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