Japan Ex-PM Aso’s ‘Fight for Taiwan’ Remark in Line With Official View, Lawmaker Says

TOKYO (Reuters) – Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso’s comment on Tuesday that his nation should present “the resolve to battle” to defend Taiwan from assault was in keeping with Tokyo’s official stance, a lawmaker near Aso advised a TV present late on Wednesday.

Aso, vp of the ruling Liberal Democratic Celebration (LDP), stated in Taipei that Japan, the USA and others should present robust resolve to return to Taiwan’s defence if it had been attacked, signalling deterrence in opposition to China.

Aso’s speech angered China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. A Chinese language overseas ministry spokesperson stated on Wednesday that Beijing urges Japan to abide by the One China precept and chorus from supporting pro-independence Taiwan forces in any approach.

Keisuke Suzuki, an LDP lawmaker who accompanied Aso’s Taiwan go to this week, advised the BS Fuji discuss present on Wednesday that Aso had mentioned the problem with Japanese authorities officers, indicating that Aso’s view didn’t deviate from the official place.

“The remark was not lawmaker Taro Aso’s private comment, however a results of preparations with authorities insiders”, Suzuki stated. “I feel the Japanese authorities clearly regards this because the official line.”

Aso’s go to, which marked essentially the most senior Japanese political official to go to Taiwan since 1972, when Japan normalised diplomatic relations with China, got here as tensions have risen over democratically ruled Taiwan amid China’s rising army strain on the island throughout the previous three years.

The US unveiled a Taiwan weapons support package deal value as much as $345 million final month. Japan, a detailed U.S. ally, is within the midst of a historic enhance to defence spending.

U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly stated U.S. forces would defend Taiwan within the occasion of a Chinese language invasion, which the White Home stated was not a shift in U.S. coverage.

Requested about Aso’s speech, Japanese Chief Cupboard Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Tokyo’s high authorities spokesperson, stated on Wednesday that Japan has constantly hoped for a peaceable settlement of points relating to Taiwan thorough dialogue.

Requested whether or not Japan would deploy its army to Taiwan if there’s a disaster, Matsuno declined to remark, saying the federal government wouldn’t reply a hypothetical query.

(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya. Modifying by Gerry Doyle)

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