Beijing protests after Taiwanese vice-president attends Shinzo Abe’s funeral

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman calls William Lai’s visit to Tokyo a ‘political scheme’ that will not succeed

Lai was said to be on a personal visit, with Taiwan’s presidential office saying he was a close friend of Abe and his family for many years

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Taiwanese Vice-President William Lai leaves after a funeral for the former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at Zojoji temple in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:59pm, 12 Jul 2022Updated: 11:08pm, 12 Jul 2022

Beijing has “lodged stern representations” with Tokyo after Taiwan’s vice-president attended the funeral of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday.

William Lai’s visit to Tokyo was a “political scheme” that would not succeed, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

He said Taiwan is a part of China and “does not have a so-called vice-president”.

“After the sudden and unfortunate passing of former Japanese prime minister Abe, the Taiwan authorities latched onto the opportunity for a political ploy,” Wang said. “It’s impossible this kind of political scheme will succeed.”

Japan on Tuesday bid farewell to Abe, its longest-serving prime minister, four days after the 67-year-old political heavyweight was gunned down at a campaign rally in the southern city of Nara, shocking the nation and the world.

Abe’s family has said it was a private funeral. No officials from Beijing attended. On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unexpected stop in Tokyo to offer condolences in person.

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