A visiting former Japanese justice minister today said it is important for closer bilateral collaboration on joint deterrence capabilities to prevent a "Taiwan contingency" from happening.
Japanese House of Representatives member Keisuke Suzuki, who served as justice minister in the former Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet, from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), made the comments during a press event in Taipei to conclude his three-day visit.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
During the visit from Monday through today, Suzuki said he and his delegation met with President William Lai (賴清德), Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安).
"We exchanged views concerning ways to enhance Japan-Taiwan relations, and touched on issues relating to the latest regional situations," Suzuki said via an interpreter.
"We have concluded that to make sure a 'Taiwan contingency' does not happen, we need to beef up our deterrence capabilities," he said, without elaborating.
Asked to comment if he and his Taiwanese counterparts discussed ways to enhance bilateral defense cooperation during their meetings in Taipei, Suzuki did not give a direct answer.
He declined to disclose details of his talks with Taiwanese officials, saying only that both sides agreed to work closely to uphold regional peace and stability.
Suzuki was joined by his fellow House of Representatives members from the LDP, including Akihisa Nagashima, a former special adviser to Ishiba, and Junichi Kanda, a former Japanese vice minister of justice.
Their visit came as Tokyo and Beijing are in a diplomatic spat over recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Japan's potential response to a "Taiwan contingency."
Takaichi last month said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would count as a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, and thus could warrant a military response from Tokyo, which drew an angry reaction from Beijing.
China's actions against Japan have included travel and study advisories, a ban on Japanese marine products and multiple rounds of military drills.
During today's press event, Nagashima said that the Taipei trip was planned months in advance and is not related to the ongoing Japan-China skirmish.
Lawmakers' traveling overseas to conduct exchanges are to continue despite the lack of official ties between Tokyo and Taipei, he said.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
RSS