A top Japanese diplomat on Monday spelled out Tokyo’s position on Taiwan as set out in a 1972 joint communique in a bid to lower the temperature of the diplomatic crisis with Beijing.
In a parliamentary session, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi repeated its position on Taiwan stated in the document that established and normalised diplomatic ties with Beijing and severed ties with Taipei – language Beijing has repeatedly urged Japan to restate in recent weeks.
However, he did not read out a portion of the relevant clause reflecting China’s position, even as Beijing has repeatedly urged Tokyo in recent weeks to restate the wording in full.
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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?
Motegi made the remarks during a question session at the Japanese House of Councillors’ budget committee on Monday afternoon, when Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Taku Yamazoe asked prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to elaborate on Tokyo’s position on Taiwan as set out in the document.
“Regarding Taiwan, Japan’s fundamental policy is, as the prime minister has clearly stated, in line with the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique,” Motegi said.
“The document states that the Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation.”
He did not read out the first half of the cited clause, which states “the Government of the People’s Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China”.
More to follow …
AloJapan.com