Japanese foreign minister Makiko Tanaka's controversial remarks on Taiwan's sovereignty continued to come under attack in both Japan and Taiwan yesterday, with a leading Japanese newspaper reportedly describing the remarks as "utterly abrasive."
"The Japanese language newspaper Sankei Shimbun in an editorial said Tanaka's remarks were utterly abrasive," said Hsu Kuo-chen (
"It argued that her [Tanaka's] statements violated the Japanese government's longstanding stance on cross-strait issues of allowing the two sides to resolve their problems in a peaceful manner," Hsu said.
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
The outspoken foreign minister told a press conference on Tuesday, "The Chinese people have the wisdom to take their time on political issues. Hong Kong was returned to China and the situation was resolved quietly, and I hope the Taiwan issue will be handled in a similar manner.
"Japan, as a neighboring country, and the rest of the world should make efforts to ensure that the issue will be resolved peacefully," she added.
Tanaka's remarks immediately triggered severe protest from some who interpreted them as suggesting that the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty could be resolved by following the Hong Kong model.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to Beijing's rule in July 1997 under the so-called "one country, two systems" model.
"The response we've received from the Japanese government so far is that Japan's policy on cross-strait issues remains unchanged. Japan has long proposed that cross-strait differences should be resolved by peaceful means," said Katherine Chang (
The Sankei Shimbun editorial also blasted Tanaka for "departing from Japan's basic position" by likening Taiwan's situation to that of Hong Kong.
It said Tanaka had made "a fundamental mistake" as the histories of Hong Kong and Taiwan "have been completely different."
Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Wu Tzu-dan (
During the one-hour closed-door meeting with Yamashita, Wu stressed the differences between Taiwan and Hong Kong and that Taiwan's government opposed the "one country, two systems" model, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Wu also said Taiwan insisted on resolving cross-strait issues through peaceful negotiation.
Lo Fu-chen (
Protests against Tanaka's statement have been widely reported by Japanese media.
Some viewed the comments as indicative of a further tilting toward China on Tanaka's part since she joined the Japanese Cabinet last spring.
Tanaka, who has ties to Chinese officials including the Chinese foreign minister Tang Jiasuan (
PREPARATION: Ferry lines and flights were canceled ahead of only the second storm to hit the nation in November, while many areas canceled classes and work Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it approached the nation’s southwest coast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it issued a land alert for the storm. The alert applies to residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春). As of press time last night, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Penghu counties, as well as Chiayi city and county had
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said. As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city
SELF-DETERMINATION: German lawmakers add earth to an art installation in front of the Reichstag to show that the face of a nation lies with its people, Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan’s future should be decided by Taiwanese, German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group chairman Till Steffen said yesterday, while giving former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) a tour of the German parliament building. Tsai arrived in Berlin on Sunday and the following day delivered a keynote speech at the Berlin Freedom Conference titled “Threats facing democracies: Taiwan’s experience defending freedom.” Tsai yesterday attended a tea gathering at the Bundestag, joined by former friendship group chairman of 15 years Klaus-Peter Willsch, German defense affairs specialist Roderich Kiesewetter and Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Brand. Noting that the
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
RSS