Taipei: Taiwanese citizens are being encouraged to bolster Japan’s tourism and purchase its products as a gesture of support amidst growing tensions between Japan and China. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung made this call during a legislative session, highlighting Japan’s current economic challenges following China’s backlash over Japan’s recent statements regarding Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lin referenced the Chinese Communist Party’s recent actions, describing them as “economic and military coercion” aimed at intimidating other nations. This tension arose after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared that any Chinese aggression towards Taiwan could be seen as a direct threat to Japan’s security, potentially prompting a military response from Tokyo.
In retaliation, China has criticized these remarks as “blatantly provocative” and detrimental to bilateral relations. Measures have been taken by China to impact Japan’s economy, including travel and study advisories against visiting Japan.
Minister Lin, highlighting Taiwan’s own experiences with similar coercion from Beijing, described such actions as “uncivilized and undemocratic.” He emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to supporting Japan during this period, encouraging Taiwanese citizens to increase their travel to Japan and purchase more Japanese products to reinforce the relationship between the two nations.
The NHK reported that China has already suspended imports of Japanese marine products, citing an ongoing evaluation of Japan’s handling of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant’s treated water. However, Japanese government sources suspect this move is aligned with China’s broader response to Takaichi’s statements concerning Taiwan.
