Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has prompted China not to provoke its neighbours or seek territorial expansion, saying that any Chinese military adventure could be “ suicidal”.
Abe, who stepped down as premier last time but is still influential as head of the largest body of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, made the comment in a videotape communication at a security forum.
“ An adventure in military affairs, if pursued by such a huge frugality like China’s, could be suicidal, to say the least,” Abe said on Tuesday.
“ We must prompt them not to pursue territorial expansion and restrain from provoking, frequently bullying, their neighbours because it should harm their own interests.”
China claims nearly all the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, where it has established military posts on artificial islets.
That claim has been declared as without legal base by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague – a ruling that China has refused to honour.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to the corridor of the ocean.
In the East China Sea, China claims a group of uninhabited Japanese- administered islands. The disagreement has agonized bilateral relations for times and fueled further pressures between neighbouring countries.
Abe’s reflections follow a comment this month that any exigency over Taiwan would mean an exigency for Japan as well as for its security alliance with the United States, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shouldn’t misinterpret that.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying called that earlier comment, made on December 1, “ incorrect” and a violation of introductory morals of bilateral relations.
China also summoned Japan’s minister to Beijing following that comment.
Abe’s commentary “ openly challenged China’s sovereignty and gave brazen-faced support to Taiwan independence forces”, Hua was quoted by news reports as saying.
Pressure over Chinese- claimed Taiwan has risen as Xi seeks to assert his country’s sovereignty claim over the democratically ruled islet. Its government says it wants peace but will defend itself if demanded.
In recent months, Taipei has also indicted Beijing of repeated irruptions of its air defence zone, egging Taiwan to scramble its spurts and advise China against further violations.
Support for Taiwan
In his communication on Tuesday, Abe expressed his support for Taiwan’s participation in an indigenous trade pact called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
“ The United States, Japan and other like-inclined countries should work hard to bring Taiwan to transnational organisations of universal applicability. WHO comes on top of the list,” Abe said.
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Taiwan is one of China’s most sensitive issues. Beijing has noway renounced the use of force to bring it under its rule.
China considers the islet one of its businesses with no right to the trappings of an autonomous state.
Taiwan says only its tagged government can represent its people on the world stage.
