China Complains to Japan Over Taiwan Premier’s Tokyo Trip
China has warned Japan after Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai traveled to Tokyo to watch Taiwan’s national team compete in the World Baseball Classic.
China-Japan Row: Taiwan Premier’s Tokyo Visit Sparks Diplomatic Tensions
REPORTER:
Beijing doesn’t have a team playing in this year’s World Baseball Classic, but that hasn't stopped it from watching events in Tokyo closely. Premier Cho Jung-tai's visit over the weekend to support Team Taiwan has become the latest rift in spiraling relations between Japan and China. When asked about the visit, Taiwan’s foreign ministry side-stepped the issue.
Lin Yu-hui (DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION):
The foreign ministry also welcomes continued expansion of Taiwan-Japan exchanges and cooperation across various fields on the solid foundation that already exists.
REPORTER:
Tokyo officials clarified that Cho had no contact with government officials during his time there.
Kihara Minoru (CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY):
We are aware of the reports; however, we understand that the Taiwanese side has explained that it was a private visit, and therefore the government is not in a position to comment.
REPORTER:
All this comes while Beijing-Tokyo relations are at a low point. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said last November that there was a possibility for her country’s involvement in a potential Taiwan Strait conflict — sparking Beijing’s ire. Now, China’s foreign ministry is slamming Cho’s trip as a “provocation” and said Japan would have to “pay a price” for its actions.
Guo Jiakun (SPOKESPERSON, CHINA FOREIGN MINISTRY):
The person you mentioned had ulterior motives and stealthily went to Japan for provocative little tricks on separating Taiwan from China.
REPORTER:
In Taiwan, opposition lawmakers grilled Cho this morning, demanding that he show receipts to prove no misuse of public funds. Cho said he would explain further and asked for people to not blindly follow China’s reaction.
REPORTER:
This trip highlights the challenges of Taiwan’s diplomatic status and how it impacts any officials’ overseas trips. Officials sometimes use cultural events in sports and the arts, to visit friendly nations and sidestep questions about diplomatic recognition or China’s complaints.
Courtney Donovan Smith (POLITICAL ANALYST):
After most countries cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a lot of them would put in self-imposed limitations on meeting with or allowing travel by a Taiwanese officials
There seems to be an opening up among certain regional powers to allowing private visits by Taiwanese officials. So this seems to be that they're ending their, I won't say ending their self-imposed restrictions, but they're definitely signs of loosening.
REPORTER:
But does a baseball game really amount to a “provocation”?
Courtney Donovan Smith (POLITICAL ANALYST):
It's really hard to say that watching a baseball game is a threat to any kind of national security of China or a move towards secessionism.
REPORTER:
So while Team Taiwan has already been eliminated from the tournament, the consequences of Premier Cho’s visit are likely to linger for a while longer.
