okyo/Beijing – Japan is taking a stronger, comprehensive stand on the Taiwan issue. Last week, Japan’s defence minister said that Taiwan’s security was linked to Japan’s security. Now, Japan’s deputy defence minister referred to Taiwan as a ‘democratic country’ and has appealed to other democracies that it is necessary to pay heed to Taiwan’s security. Japan’s mention of Taiwan as a democracy has not been well received by China. The Chinese foreign minister has warned that Japan is making a serious mistake.
Two days ago, China and Russia announced the expansion of the Friendship Treaty. The chief of both countries said that the expansion of cooperation was needed because of the growing pressure from the West. While speaking at a virtual meeting with the US think-tank at the Hudson Institute, Japan’s Deputy Defence Minister Yasuhide Nakayama criticised the cooperation between China and Russia. In particular, Nakayama questioned the decision of the United States and Japan to support China’s One China policy rather than to support Taiwan’s democracy since the 1970s.
