IIn the dispute over Taiwan, China summoned the Japanese ambassador. As announced by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Thursday, the country was responding to a comment by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who publicly stated that Japan and the United States would not stand idly by when China attacks the island of the Republic of Taiwan.
According to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying described Aps’ remarks during a meeting with Ambassador Shui Hideo on Wednesday evening as “irresponsible” and “brutal interference” in China’s internal affairs. Japan should not underestimate the “determination and strength of the Chinese people.”
Abe had earlier said during a video address at a Taiwan think-tank event that the emergency in Taiwan would also be viewed as an emergency for the US-Japan alliance. Beijing should not misjudge this. Abe also said that if China invaded Taiwan, it would cause serious economic damage to itself.
China regards democratic Taiwan, which broke away from the mainland in 1949, as a breakaway province rather than an independent country, and is trying to achieve reunification. The People’s Republic rejects any form of official relations between other countries and the island republic.