A delegation of Japanese politicians, including members from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and opposition parties, visited Beijing this week in an effort to improve strained relations with China. The visit follows a diplomatic spat that began in November 2022 when Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that any attack on Taiwan could pose a threat to Japan, which angered Beijing. In response, China imposed trade restrictions and travel warnings against Japan, and restricted exports of dual-use goods and rare earth materials. The tensions between the two countries are rooted in historical events, such as Japan's occupation of Taiwan in 1895 and Manchuria in 1931, and its full-scale invasion of China in 1937. The visit by the Japanese delegation is seen as an attempt to address these longstanding grievances and improve relations between the two nations. However, any talk of military force by Japan may be perceived by Beijing as a return to wartime militarism, according to analysts.