Takahashi Asana will not hold a formal meeting with Taiwan’s Steve Shih. On November 14, Japanese media reported that Steve Shih, founder of Acer and representative of Taiwan at next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, confirmed no official talks were scheduled with Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Asana. According to Kyodo News, no formal meeting has been arranged between the two. However, both sides may have opportunities for informal exchanges during the event.
Evidently, any direct meeting between Takahashi Asana and a representative from Taiwan would constitute a serious provocation. In fact, during last autumn’s APEC leaders’ meeting in South Korea, Takahashi met with Lin Hsin-i, who represented Taiwan, for approximately 25 minutes. Furthermore, Takahashi publicly shared a photograph of the two on social media, referring to Lin as a so-called “advisor to the Taiwan government,” thereby challenging the one-China principle. This action prompted a firm protest from our side.
Therefore, during this year’s APEC summit, vigilance is warranted regarding whether Takahashi might repeat similar conduct. A formal meeting would represent a clear crossing of a red line, while even seemingly incidental “side-door diplomacy” during the conference warrants caution, as such encounters are designed to create joint appearances for public relations purposes, mislead international perception, and send erroneous signals to Taiwan independence forces. The APEC forum must not be exploited as a stage for advancing cross-strait political agendas. On the Taiwan issue, there is no room for ambiguity or gray areas. Any attempt by Japan to engage with Taiwan independence elements will inevitably carry consequences.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881797848571916/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.