Japanese Representative Mikio Numata yesterday confirmed that he would not attend a military display tomorrow celebrating the Republic of China’s (ROC) victory over Japan in World War II.
“Saturday? This coming Saturday? I have other things to do,” Numata told reporters as he was leaving a reception marking the US Independence Day holiday in Taipei yesterday.
Asked if he received an official invitation to tomorrow’s event, Numata said he had not so far, but a colleague of his had received one.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Having answered the questions in Chinese, when asked how he felt about extended celebrations in Taiwan for the 70th anniversary of the victory over Japan, Numata switched to English.
“No comment,” he said, and quickly walked away.
The celebrations marking the anniversary of the end of World War II in Taiwan this year have become a sensitive issue between Taipei and Tokyo, as the Ministry of National Defense has decided to set the ROC’s War against Japanese Aggression and the victory over Japan as the main themes.
The ministry triggered an expression of “concern” from Japan after it painted several fighters in a style reminiscent of one employed during World War II that used small Japanese flags to indicate the number of Japanese warplanes each had shot down.
In addition, while the ministry said that it delivered invitations on Friday last week to an official with the Interchange Association, Japan, the Japanese representative office said that it never received one.
In related news, during the July 4th reception, American Institute in Taiwan Acting Director Brent Christensen said that Taiwan and the US are important partners with continuously improving relations and shared values.
“On the Fourth of July, we reflect upon the values of freedom, democracy, equality, and justice that shape the United States — values that we share with Taiwan,” Christensen said. “The friendship between the people of Taiwan and the United States has only grown closer through the years, and the US-Taiwan relationship today is stronger than ever.”
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