Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has voiced hope that China and Japan can de-escalate tensions, following a row sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on the Taiwan Strait.
At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Wednesday, Wong said Singapore and fellow Southeast Asian states supported Tokyo stepping into a bigger role in the region, including on the security front, for greater stability.
Takaichi earlier this month said Japan could deploy its military in the event of a contingency in Taiwan, enraging Beijing officials, who claimed her remarks damaged bilateral ties and challenged the post-war international order.
Wong on Wednesday noted that while both nations were major trading partners, their ties were “complex” due to territorial disputes, historical wars and Japan’s alliance with the United States.
“We hope the two countries will find ways to resolve these very complex issues and move forward,” Wong said. “Southeast Asia has done that with Japan … We’ve put history aside and we’re moving forward.”
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Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?
Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?
He declined to comment on Takaichi’s initial remarks, and noted that Japan seemed to be inclined to stabilise its relationship with China and not escalate matters.
AloJapan.com