Former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso’s remark on Tuesday that his country must show “the resolve to fight” to defend Taiwan from attack was in line with Tokyo’s official stance, a lawmaker close to Aso said on a TV show late on Wednesday.
Aso, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said in Taipei that Japan, the US and others must show strong resolve to come to Taiwan’s defense if it were attacked, signaling deterrence against China.
A spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that Beijing urges Japan to abide by the “one China” principle and refrain from supporting “pro-Taiwan independence forces” in any way.
Photo: Presidential Office via AP
Keisuke Suzuki, an LDP lawmaker who accompanied Aso on his visit to Taiwan this week, said on a BS Fuji talk show that Aso had discussed the issue with Japanese government officials, indicating that Aso’s view did not deviate from the official position.
“The comment was not lawmaker Taro Aso’s personal remark, but a result of arrangements with government insiders,” Suzuki said. “I think the Japanese government clearly regards this as the official line.”
Aso was the most senior Japanese political official to visit Taiwan since 1972, when Japan normalized diplomatic relations with China.
Japan is amid a historic boost to defense spending, while the US last month unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to US$345 million.
Asked about Aso’s speech, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Tokyo’s top government spokesperson, on Wednesday said that Japan has consistently hoped for a peaceful settlement thorough dialogue on issues regarding Taiwan.
Asked whether Japan would deploy its military to Taiwan if a crisis should emerge, Matsuno declined to comment, saying the government would not answer a hypothetical question.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS