China and Japan differ on whether their foreign ministers spoke last week at ASEAN

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi claimed he had a brief discussion with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during last week's ASEAN meeting in the Philippines, but China's Foreign Ministry denied any meeting occurred. The dispute reflects deteriorating ties since November, when Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan angered China, leading to economic and military tensions.