Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says a possible “Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance”. That comment came during a virtual address to a Taiwanese think-tank on Wednesday.
Abe’s remarks caused ire in Beijing. China’s foreign ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador there, Hideo Tarumi, to an “emergency meeting”. It called Abe’s remarks “erroneous” and a “violation” of diplomatic norms between Japan and China.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Joanne Ou thanked important political figures from the international community for taking interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. She said Taiwan is at the front line of democracy in the Western Pacific as well as a part of the first island chain, like Japan.
Ou also said, however, that opinions expressed by political figures at non-governmental forums are their own, and the foreign ministry does not usually comment on them. She said the Chinese foreign ministry’s reaction makes it an international laughing stock and does not merit further reply.
