Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has accused China of blaming other countries for regional tensions. The comment was made in reference to recent remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Wang called for vigilance against what he termed a dangerous trend emerging in Japan when he was asked about the situation in the Asia-Pacific region at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday.
He reiterated his criticism of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s comments at the Diet on a possible Taiwan emergency. Wang said Takaichi’s remarks directly challenge China’s sovereignty and the post-World War Two order.
Lin reacted sharply in a statement released on Sunday. He said Taiwan’s sovereignty has never belonged to the People’s Republic of China. He said China has recently engaged in military provocations in surrounding areas, severely threatening regional peace and stability.
The statement is part of Taiwan’s efforts to counter China, which is ratcheting up military pressure against the administration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.