President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, stated that she has no plan to call nor talk with the newly-elected Japan's PM, Yoshihide Suga. (Image via Al Jazeera)

Taiwan president has no plan to talk to Suga

On Sunday, the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, stated no plan to talk or call the new Prime Minister (PM) of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, who was elected last Wednesday. The statement contradicted what the Japanese envoy to Taiwan had said that Suga and Tsai were open to the possibility, creating concerns in Beijing. Moreover, Tsai also said that Beijing's approach by aircraft to Taiwan proved that China is a threat to the Indo-Pacific region.

The former PM of Japan, Yoshiro Mori, met President Tsai Friday last week while paying his visit to the memorial of the late president, Lee Teng-hui. After the visit, Suga said to Mori that he wished to talk to Tsai by phone or any other means of communication.

Taiwan is a territory claimed under China's rule. While Japan shared historical and cultural ties with Taiwan, Japan - as it also holds a bilateral relation with China - does not acknowledge Taiwan's government. Therefore, the rumor resulted in concern in Beijing. Once a Japanese colony between 1895 - 1945, Japan severed its bilateral ties with Taiwan in 1972.

When asked for clarification by China's foreign ministry, Japan clarified that the talk between Tsai and Suga would never happen. Tsai stated the same. She never heard it from Mori and discussed no plan to call or talk with Suga whatsoever. However, the Taiwanese people see Japan in a positive way and as a waymaker of change for the development of Taiwan.

Source: https://bit.ly/3kwXVJy