Beijing claimed it had filed a diplomatic complaint against Tokyo after its deputy defence minister stated that China was a security threat and Japan and the U.S. must “wake up” and “protect Taiwan as democracy.”
Japan’s State Minister of Defense Yasuhide Nakayama made the comments at a Hudson Institute event on Monday, in which he sounded the alarm about Chinese and Russian military collaboration, and the resultant threat to the Indo-Pacific region. Yasuhide Nagayama, Japan’s State Minister for Defense, made these comments on Monday at an Hudson Institute event. He raised concerns about Chinese and Russian military cooperation and the threat it poses to the Indo-Pacific.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called the remarks “erroneous” at a Tuesday press conference.
He stated that Beijing had “lodged solemn representations with Tokyo” over Nakayama’s use the term “country”.
Wang stated that the Japanese Defense Ministry’s second-in-command, Wang, said that the official “violated Japan’s long-standing promise to not regard Taiwan as an independent country.”
He stated that China demanded clarification from the Japanese government to ensure that a similar incident doesn’t happen again.
Wang described Taiwan as China’s sacred territory, adding that Japan should keep its promise regarding Taiwan and speak and act prudently.
Wang fired off a similar warning on June 10 after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga also referred to Taiwan as a country during a National Diet session broadcast on national television. Wang issued a similar warning after the Japanese Prime Minster Yoshihide Sug also mentioned Taiwan during a National Diet broadcast on national television.
Analysts believe that the Japanese high-ranking officials who are skilled diplomats will have planned their use of this phrase, despite Tokyo’s lack in official relations with Taipei.
According to observers, the Japanese support for democracy Taiwan is evident and may indicate that the ruling party politicians are trying to get domestic support in advance of the general election in Oct.
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During the Hudson Institute event, Nakayama made many notable mentions about Taiwan. His and Defense Minister Nobuokishi’s relationship to Taiwan was not just friendship, but brotherhood and family.
China continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, which was self-ruled until the mid-1990s when it became a fully democratic country.
Nakayama stated that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would directly affect nearby islands in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture. He also pointed out the presence of American military personnel and their families.