![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() by AFP Staff Writers Taipei (AFP) Aug 25, 2021
Taiwan and Japan's ruling party will hold security talks for the first time later this week, a Taiwanese lawmaker said Wednesday, as the two neighbours fret about China's increasingly bellicose military threats. The announcement of the talks was condemned by Beijing, which claims self-ruled, democratic Taiwan and opposes countries having official contacts with Taipei. Two lawmakers each from Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will hold a virtual talk on Friday dubbed a "two-plus-two" security meeting. "This is the first dialogue of its kind initiated by the Japanese side and we will be discussing diplomacy, defence and regional security issues," participant and DPP lawmaker Lo Chih-cheng told AFP. The talks will address regional security concerns including China, added Lo, who also heads up the DPP's international affairs department. Masahisa Sato, a parliamentarian in charge of foreign affairs for LDP, told the Financial Times that the dialogue was a substitute for ministerial talks as Japan officially recognises Beijing over Taipei. They were necessary as Taiwan's future would have a "serious impact" on Japan, Sato was quoted as saying. "That is how important we feel the situation in Taiwan is at the moment," he told the paper, adding "higher-level talks with Taiwanese government officials" would be planned in the future. China hit out at Friday's summit, saying it opposed "any form of official interaction" with Taiwan. "The Taiwan issue touches on the political foundation of China-Japan relations...(Japan) should be especially cautious in its words and deeds," warned foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. Like the United States, Japan has become increasingly rattled by China's sabre-rattling towards Taiwan. In a recent defence white paper, Tokyo directly linked Japan's security with Taiwan's, breaking with years of precedent. Beijing has ramped up diplomatic, military and economic pressure on self-ruled democratic Taiwan in recent years. Chinese fighter jets and nuclear capable bombers now routinely fly into Taiwan's aid defence zone while state media churns out regular editorials vowing that Taiwan will be swiftly defeated in any invasion. Recent editorials have seized on the Washington's chaotic departure from Afghanistan as evidence the US cannot be relied upon to protect Taiwan. Taipei and Washington have rejected that narrative and say relations are "rock solid". During a trip to Hanoi on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris said the US would find new ways to "raise the pressure on Beijing", accusing China of bullying in hotly disputed Asian waters for the second time in two days.
![]() ![]() Taiwan team told to remove flag before Le Mans race Taipei (AFP) Aug 23, 2021 A Taiwanese team taking part in the Le Mans 24-hour race was told to remove the island's national flag from its car before competing, local media and organisers said Monday. The team's owner Morris Chen received a request from organisers to replace Taiwan's flag with its Olympic version before the race started, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA). It came after China's Tencent decided not to livestream the event because a "racing team from Taiwan, China used the non-Olympic flag on ... read more
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |