Japan's Abe: "Japan Must Support Establishing Taiwan's International Status"

▲Shinzo Abe, Former Prime Minister of Japan [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed that Japan should support Taiwan in establishing its international status, Sankei Shimbun reported on the 29th.

According to the report, former Prime Minister Abe stated, "If circumstances permit, I would like to pay respects at the tomb of former President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan, who passed away at the end of July last year."

Former Prime Minister Abe mentioned the deep friendly relations between Japan and Taiwan and emphasized the need for active support for Taiwan.

Taiwanese media interpreted Abe's remarks as indicating his intention to help Taiwan participate as an observer in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), and to assist Taiwan in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that it would sincerely welcome Abe's visit to Taiwan and provide necessary cooperation to the best of its ability.

Earlier, Japan explicitly mentioned the "importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait" in the joint statement of the US-Japan summit in April, and also raised the Taiwan issue during talks with European Union (EU) leaders in May.

Last month, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga referred to Taiwan as a "country," and Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Yasuhide Nakayama said at an online event hosted by the US think tank Hudson Institute, "We must actively protect Taiwan, a democratic country, against China's military pressure."

The Japanese government is actively aligning with the US's diplomatic and security strategy to check China, openly mentioning the Taiwan issue and taking a pro-Taiwan stance, thereby confronting China.

In contrast, China, which advocates the "One China" policy, has strongly opposed these moves, issuing warnings at the level of "willingness to go to war."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.