China sent a ceremony to Japan in connection with the participation of the Vice President of Taiwan at the memorial service for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
China maintains that Taiwan is a breakaway province that should be reunited by force if necessary, and objects to any expression of its independent political identity.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that Taiwanese authorities “showed a political ploy” and that Beijing “complained to Japan in Beijing and Tokyo and made its position clear.”
“Taiwan’s political scheme will never work,” he said at a daily press conference.
On Monday, Taiwan Vice President Lai Chengde attended Abe’s memorial service in Tokyo. Abe was known for being a staunch supporter of Taiwan, which was a Japanese colony for 50 years.
China and Taiwan were divided in a civil war in 1949, and Beijing sought to diplomatically isolate the island’s government.
Currently, China regularly sends warplanes across the Taiwan Strait, threatening to use force if the island makes a formal declaration of independence and expel Taipei’s supporters, especially the United States, as well as allies, including Japan.
After stepping down as prime minister in 2021, Abe angered Beijing with a speech declaring his strong support for Taiwan, stating that “any military adventure will lead to China’s economic suicide.”
Source: AB