Japan’s parliamentary delegation’s visit to Taiwan bodes ill for island: experts
A parliamentary delegation led by former Japanese defense ministers arrived in China’s Taiwan island on Wednesday to discuss “security concerns” across the Taiwan Straits. The move is seen by experts as a pretext to hype conflict, with the true intention of expanding Japan’s military power.
Former Japanese defense ministers Shigeru Ishiba and Yasukazu Hamada led a parliamentary delegation of four from Japan’s National Diet to China’s Taiwan, and arrived at Songshan Airport in Taipei on Wednesday morning. During the trip, they are scheduled to hold talks with Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP) authorities, local media reported. The purpose of the visit is to “discuss extensively the regional security situation in Taiwan, especially in the context of the Russia- Ukraine military conflict,” local media reported.
The Japanese lawmakers will meet with regional leader Tsai Ing- wen and deputy regional leader Lai Tsing- te, among other officials, local media said.
The visit was announced on July 12 after Lai attended late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s funeral in a “private capacity.” Officials with the island’s “external affairs department” noted that it was particularly meaningful for Japanese Diet members to visit the island after Abe’s passing, which means that support for Taiwan “will not dissipate.”
Abe’s passing was felt most keenly by the secessionist Taiwan authorities, Liu Jiangyong, vice dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Wednesday, noting that Abe and his brother Nobuo Kishi, Japan’s current minister of defense, long played crucial roles in collusion between the island and Japan.
After Abe’s death, the DPP urgently needs a new candidate to fill this position and build new channels with Tokyo, and Kishi is believed to be the best option. The two former defense ministers’ visit to the island became important pawns to convey voices for both sides, Liu said.