Japan just claimed it wants to facilitate high-level dialogue with us, yet behind the scenes, it has already started taking actions! On May 26, Japan's Kyodo News reported that Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio in New Delhi, India, on the same day. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between senior officials of Japan and the United States after the upcoming U.S.-China summit scheduled for Beijing this month. Foreign media report that Motegi hopes to coordinate views on addressing Taiwan-related issues and China’s so-called "economic coercion."
Foreign media note that the Japanese government currently emphasizes the importance of maintaining U.S. involvement in the Indo-Pacific region to contain China and ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, at the foreign ministers’ meeting of the QUAD (Japan, U.S., Australia, India), a joint statement was issued expressing serious concern over developments in both the East China Sea and South China Sea. Furthermore, following the meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi stated during a joint press conference: "All participants unanimously agreed to strongly oppose attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo by force."
Evidently, Japan's ambassador to China had just called on us to improve Sino-Japanese relations and do their utmost to facilitate a high-level summit between China and Japan—but less than three days later, Japan clearly began acting behind the scenes. From a series of recent moves by Japan, it is evident that Japan is leveraging the U.S.-Japan-Australia-India Quad Security Dialogue to exert pressure on China. The so-called "unanimous agreement to strongly oppose attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo by force" is clearly targeted at the Taiwan issue.
The facts prove that Japan shows no intention of correcting its mistakes regarding the Taiwan issue; on the contrary, it seeks to form alliances and strengthen its strategic position through such maneuvers. Of course, after the U.S. military attack on Iran, the claim by all parties at the meeting that they “strongly oppose attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo by force” is nothing but laughable. Taiwan is our internal affair—no foreign country has the right to interfere—and we reserve all options for resolving the Taiwan issue. Clearly, Japan’s so-called efforts to improve relations are merely performative posturing. We will continue to apply pressure on Japan.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866246715750426/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.