Taiwan Vice President Visits Japan to Pay Tribute to Abe... Will the Anti-China Front Strengthen?

Highest-Level Visit Since Taiwan-Japan Diplomatic Break
China: "Taiwan Is Part of China... No Vice President"

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is paying tribute by laying flowers at the funeral hall of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, set up at the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association office in Taipei, the capital, on the 11th. President Tsai announced that flags at half-mast would be flown at government agencies and public schools on the same day. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Lai Ching-te, Vice President of Taiwan, visited Japan to pay condolences for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who died after being attacked during a campaign rally supporting the House of Councillors election in Japan.

Taiwan's Central News Agency and others reported on the 12th, citing lawmakers from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, that Vice President Lai left for Japan to offer condolences under the direction of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, calling it a "diplomatic breakthrough." They explained that since Japan established diplomatic relations with China in 1972 and severed official ties with Taiwan, Vice President Lai is the highest-ranking Taiwanese government official to visit Japan. Japanese local media also reported Vice President Lai entering former Prime Minister Abe's residence.

Japan and Taiwan have recently strengthened their anti-China front. Taiwanese media described former Prime Minister Abe as "the most Taiwan-friendly Japanese Prime Minister," noting that he was scheduled to visit Taiwan later this month. President Tsai visited the condolence altar set up locally in Taiwan for former Prime Minister Abe the day before to pay respects and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at government agencies and public schools.

China strongly opposed Vice President Lai's visit to Japan. Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 12th in response to questions about Lai's visit, "Taiwan is a part of China," adding, "There is no so-called Vice President."

Spokesperson Wang further criticized, "After former Prime Minister Abe suddenly and tragically passed away, the Taiwan authorities are taking this opportunity to engage in political manipulation and shape political public opinion," stating, "Such political attempts cannot be realized." He also said, "China has already lodged stern representations with the Japanese side in Beijing and Tokyo to clearly express our position."

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