Japan and China’s defense ministers recently met to discuss their countries’ security concerns and agreed to ensure the “reliability” of their military hotline to prevent potential clashes. They also agreed to promote dialogue and exchange while using the hotline “appropriately.” Japan established the hotline to link its Self-Defense Forces with Chinese defense officials. While Japan’s Defense Minister voiced his concerns about the situation in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, particularly the Senkaku Islands, China’s Li warned Japan against interfering in the Taiwan issue. Li emphasized that the Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair and that no external forces are allowed to intervene. The ministers’ meeting came just days after Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Fund announced that Japan and China will restart mutual visits by their defense officers in July after a four-year hiatus.