Taiwan must never face the Hong Kong experience: ex-Japan PM

Tokyo/ Taipei/ Beijing – ‘What happened in Hong Kong must never happen in Taiwan’, said the former Japan PM, Shinzo Abe. At the time, Abe also expressed concern about the ongoing partial effort of China to ‘restore’ the situation in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China has reacted to this claim by Abe. Moreover, the United States and Japan have warned China not to interfere in Taiwan.

Japan-Republic of China Diet Members’ Consultative Council, this think tank hosted the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue. Representatives of the United States, Japan and Taiwan had participated in this seminar. Moreover, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe participated as the think tank advisor in this dialogue. At the time, he compared Taiwan to Hong Kong and expressed concerns about the actions of China regime.

Shinzo Abe appealed to the United States and Taiwan to participate in the CPTPP and multinational trade agreement. At the same time, he supported Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organisation. The former Japanese PM drew attention to the fact that Taiwan’s role in maintaining an open and accessible Indo-Pacific region is significant. He also expects China to welcome Taiwan heartily.

Moreover, six Japanese parliament members participated in this session. Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi is also said to have delivered a special message for this session. The ex-US envoy to Japan Bill Hagerty also participated in this Trilateral Strategic Dialogue. At the time, representatives of Japan, the United States and Taiwan consistently organised a meeting and decided to make efforts to increase the trilateral cooperation.

China has reacted to this meeting by Japan and the United States. The United States and Japan must not take steps to gain support for the issue of Taiwan’s independence. Also, they must not interfere over the Taiwan issue, warned Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian. The spokesperson also said that the meeting comprised discussions of only old points that nobody paid attention.

Over the last few years, the Japan-China relations have seen several fluctuations. Also, currently, their relations are indicated to be strained. Japan has adopted an aggressive stance over the issues such as constant Chinese invasion in the East China Sea, hiding information regarding the Coronavirus, law imposed on Hong Kong and creating pressure based on its financial and military might. Besides, it has surfaced that the two nations also had a heated debate over this point. Moreover, the Taiwan issue has added to this argument. Thus, the statement of former PM Shinzo Abe denotes that Japan has started taking a far more aggressive stance over these points.