Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has strongly criticised China’s military exercises around Taiwan, calling them a serious threat to peace and stability in the region. He made these comments during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, according to the Taipei Times.
Iwaya told Wang that peace in the Taiwan Strait is very important not just for the region, but for the whole world, including Japan. He said that China’s large military drills near Taiwan go against the idea of maintaining peace.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry also said it does not support any country trying to change things by using force or threats — clearly pointing at China’s growing military pressure on Taiwan.
Iwaya also raised concerns about China’s actions in the South China Sea, which many countries believe show China’s growing aggression and disregard for international rules.
In response, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei agreed with Japan. He said China often uses false excuses to increase military threats, which puts peace in danger not just in the Taiwan Strait, but in the entire region.
Hsiao also reminded that Japan has warned China many times in recent months, including during a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the APEC summit last November, and in a foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo this March.
As China increases its military pressure, countries like Japan are stepping up to defend peace and support Taiwan’s democracy.
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