China upset after Japan PM calls Taiwan ‘country’

China on Thursday said it has lodged stern protests and warned Japan after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga made a rare reference to Taiwan as a country during a parliamentary meeting a day before.

China accused Japan of severely breaching its pledge not to refer self-ruled Taiwan as a country, which Beijing sees as a breakaway region to be reunited, if required, by force.

Suga had referred to Taiwan as a country during a meeting of Japan’s national diet, the country’s bicameral legislature on Wednesday.

Discussing Covid-19 pandemic prevention strategies adopted abroad, Suga listed Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan as nations that had “adopted strong restrictions on private rights”, reports from Tokyo said.

The reference evoked strong response from Beijing, which is against foreign countries having diplomatic ties with Taiwan or even referring to the island as a country.

China lodged stern representations with Japan after PM Suga referred to the Taiwan region as a country, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was quoted as saying by state media.

It seriously violated the principles of the four political documents including a Sino-japanese joint statement, Wang said, adding Suga’s remarks severely breached Japan’s promise on not regarding Taiwan as a country.

Wang called on the Japanese side to make a clear clarification and make sure this kind of incident never happens again.

The spokesperson urged Japan to honour its promises, be cautious with its words and actions and not damage China’s sovereignty in any way.

China okays legislation to tackle US sanctions

Chinese lawmakers approved legislation aimed at giving the country more tools to counter US sanctions.

The legislation was approved on Thursday by the National People’s Congress standing committee, state broadcaster CCTV said. The full text of the final legislation wasn’t immediately released.