China on Tuesday criticized South Korean and Japanese parliamentarians for visiting Taiwan despite their strong opposition, reprimanding the two neighbors for attending Taiwan's “so-called leader inauguration ceremony”.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, considered by China as a “separatist”, was officially sworn in on Monday (20), after winning the January elections.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, resolutely opposes the visits, its embassies in South Korea and Japan said, and has made solemn representations to the two northeast Asian countries.
A spokesperson for the embassy in South Korea said the move is contrary to the strategic cooperative partnership between China and South Korea, while in Japan, the embassy said the visit seriously contradicts the spirit of Sino-Japanese commitments. .
China called on South Korea to take “practical actions” to protect the overall interests of bilateral relations, while seriously requesting Japan to cease “provocative political manipulation” of the Taiwan issue.
He also told Japan, which joined the United States in congratulating Lai, to avoid causing further harm to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and their bilateral relations.
On Monday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called Taiwan “an extremely important partner and friend of our country” and that Japan's position was to further deepen cooperation and exchanges at the non-governmental level .
Ties between Japan and China have been strained in recent times, strained by a range of issues including clashes over mutual maritime claims in the East China Sea, as well as China's actions against the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea.
China, South Korea and Japan are expected to hold a trilateral summit next week in Seoul.
Source: CNN Brasil
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