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
‘UNFRIENDLY’: Changing the nationality listing of Taiwanese residents to ‘China’ goes against EU foreign policy as well as democratic and human rights principles, MOFA said Taiwan yesterday called on Denmark to correct its designation of the nationality of Taiwanese residents as “China” or face retaliatory measures. The Danish government in 2024 changed the nationality of Taiwanese citizens on their residence permits from “Taiwan” to “China.” The decision goes against EU foreign policy and contravenes democratic and human rights principles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said. Denmark should present a solution acceptable to Taiwan as soon as possible and correct the erroneous designation to preserve the longstanding friendship between the two nations, Hsiao said. The issue could damage Denmark’s image and business reputation in Taiwan,
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio
RSS