Beijing is ignoring international appeals for peace in the Taiwan Strait, and is threatening countries that express pro-Taiwan sentiments, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung (沈有忠) said yesterday.
Shen made the comment as a diplomatic spat between Japan and China escalated over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments regarding Taiwan.
China yesterday demanded that Takaichi retract her remark about a possible conflict over Taiwan, while a state-run newspaper called it Tokyo’s “first threat of force” against Beijing in 80 years.
Photo: AFP
Takaichi last week said if military force were to be used in a Taiwan conflict, it could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.
That specific wording matters, as it would provide Japan with a legal justification to deploy its military to help defend friendly nations.
Her comments drew an angry response from Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian (薛劍), who posted on social media: “If you go sticking that filthy neck where it doesn’t belong, it’s gonna get sliced right off. You ready for that?”
The post was later deleted.
Meanwhile, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong (孫衛東) on Thursday summoned the Japanese ambassador over Takaichi’s statement.
Takaichi should disavow her comments, “otherwise all consequences must be borne by Japan,” Sun said. “If anyone dares to interfere with China’s reunification cause in any form, China will surely strike back hard.”
Hours later, a commentary in the Chinese state-run People’s Daily called Takaichi’s comments “extremely sinister.”
It is unclear whether Sun’s summoning of the Japanese ambassador simply marked Beijing’s desire to make its displeasure formally known or if the episode would have any impact on business or trade ties.
At a forum in Taipei, Shen said Taiwan has always been committed to maintaining the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, while China has attempted to disrupt that peace.
Beijing is ignoring international appeals regarding cross-strait issues, and intimidates other countries over their pro-Taiwan statements and actions, he said.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara yesterday said Tokyo complained to Beijing over Xue’s remarks.
“We reiterated our position on the matter and explained the intention behind Prime Minister Takaichi’s comments,” Kihara said.
Tokyo also said it summoned Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao (吳江浩) “and strongly protested against the extremely inappropriate statements” made by Xue.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Wu to ensure “the Chinese side takes appropriate measures,” it added.
Kanasugi at the Caixin Summit in Beijing on Thursday said China and Japan should deepen their relationship.
Asked how bilateral ties would evolve under Takaichi, Kanasugi said: “As neighbors, we have all sorts of difficulties, problems occur, a lot of ups and downs.”
“We should manage these difficulties, and at the same time, we have to enhance and deepen our cooperation on what I call common agenda items,” he added.
Additional reporting by AFP and Chung Li-hua
MILESTONE: The foreign minister called the signing ‘a major step forward in US-Taiwan relations,’ while the Presidential Office said it was a symbol of the nations’ shared values US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the US Department of State to regularly review and update guidelines governing official US interactions with Taiwan. The new law is an amendment to the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 focused on reviewing guidelines on US interactions with Taiwan. Previously, the state department was required to conduct a one-time review of its guidance governing relations with Taiwan, but under the new bill, the agency must conduct a review “not less than every five years.” It must then submit an updated report based on its findings “not later
The Presidential Office today thanked the US for enacting the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the US Department of State to regularly review and update guidelines governing official US interactions with Taiwan. The new law, signed by US President Donald Trump yesterday, is an amendment to the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 focused on reviewing guidelines on US interactions with Taiwan. Previously, the department was required to conduct a one-time review of its guidance governing relations with Taiwan, but under the new bill, the agency must conduct such a review "not less than every five years." It must then submit an updated
CROSS-STRAIT COLLABORATION: The new KMT chairwoman expressed interest in meeting the Chinese president from the start, but she’ll have to pay to get in Beijing allegedly agreed to let Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) around the Lunar New Year holiday next year on three conditions, including that the KMT block Taiwan’s arms purchases, a source said yesterday. Cheng has expressed interest in meeting Xi since she won the KMT’s chairmanship election in October. A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a consensus on a meeting was allegedly reached after two KMT vice chairmen visited China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) in China last month. Beijing allegedly gave the KMT three conditions it had to
STAYING ALERT: China this week deployed its largest maritime show of force to date in the region, prompting concern in Taipei and Tokyo, which Beijing has brushed off Deterring conflict over Taiwan is a priority, the White House said in its National Security Strategy published yesterday, which also called on Japan and South Korea to increase their defense spending to help protect the first island chain. Taiwan is strategically positioned between Northeast and Southeast Asia, and provides direct access to the second island chain, with one-third of global shipping passing through the South China Sea, the report said. Given the implications for the US economy, along with Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductors, “deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority,” it said. However, the strategy also reiterated
RSS