An official with Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Sunday criticized Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka's remarks regarding the status of Taiwan vis-a-vis China, that she made last Tuesday.
Japanese foreign ministers must adhere to their government's long-standing policy that Taipei-Beijing issues must be resolved through peaceful means, the official said.
LDP Secretary-General Taku Yamasaki said in an interview aired on Fuji TV Sunday that diplomatic issues are very sensitive and should not involve comments that interfere with another country's domestic affairs.
Tanaka said last Tuesday she hoped the Taiwan issue would turn out like the Hong Kong issue did. The former British colony reverted to China in 1997 under the "one country, two systems" formula.
The outspoken minister's remarks drew immediate protests from Taiwan's government and criticism from several major Japanese media outlets.
Tokyo has traditionally refrained from taking sides on the Taiwan issue.
In a statement of protest, Taiwan's representative to Japan Lo Fu-chuan (
He also demanded that Tanaka retract what he called "her pro-Beijing remarks."
Tanaka explained her comments at a news conference last Friday.
She said her remarks meant that she hoped the Taiwan issue would be resolved through peaceful negotiations, without the use of force -- in the same way that the Hong Kong issue was resolved peacefully.
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