New Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka vowed Friday to study past developments in Japan-China ties and talk to Chinese officials directly to improve Tokyo's strained relations with Beijing.
Speaking in an interview, Japan's first female foreign minister said it is important to respect the 1972 Japan-China joint declaration, which led to the normalization of bilateral ties by recognizing Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China. The declaration was signed by her father, the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka.
Tanaka, added that she had no immediate plans to visit China.