Mainland China lashes out after Taiwan’s incoming leader William Lai invokes Japan to warn of cross-strait risks
- William Lai cites Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his predecessor Shinzo Abe in highlighting need for Indo-Pacific peace and stability
- At event in memory of Japanese engineer, Lai harks back to remarks like ‘Taiwan’s security is a global issue’ and ‘Taiwan’s crisis is Japan’s crisis’
Paying tribute in Tainan at a commemorative event for Japanese engineer Yoichi Hatta, who built a reservoir in the southern Taiwanese city during Japan’s colonial rule over the island, Lai reminded the audience of Tokyo’s concerns over peace in the Taiwan Strait.
He cited Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s comment last year that “Taiwan’s security is a global issue” and his opposition to any forcible change in the regional status quo, as well as a warning from Kishida’s predecessor, the late Shinzo Abe, that “Taiwan’s crisis is Japan’s crisis”.
Beijing’s foreign ministry reacted strongly to Lai’s speech, with spokesman Lin Jian accusing him of banking on foreign forces to promote his ambitions of independence.
“The DPP authorities are bringing this claim up again, which once again exposes their underlying logic of ingratiating themselves with Japan and betraying Taiwan,” Lin said, referring to Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).