New arrivalYou can now listen to Fox News articles.
With the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Taiwan and the United States have lost key supporters of China’s militaryization in the Pacific.
Prime Minister Abe, a major conservative of Japanese politics and Japan’s first nationalist against China’s expansion, was a strong ally of Taiwan as the threat of China’s “unification” loomed.
“There were no true friends in Taiwan. Prime Minister Abe, who is open and firmly believes in democracy, has taken Japan-Taiwan relations to new heights,” the Taiwanese embassy in the United States tweeted. “We are very sorry, but we would like to express our deepest sympathies.”
Shinzo Abe dies: Japan’s longest-serving prime minister was a conservative kingmaker who strengthened relations with the United States
Prime Minister Abe defended Taiwan as a major ally to prevent China’s aggression and expansion, and spoke routinely in support of the autonomy of the island nations in conflict.
“It’s no coincidence that the relationship between the two countries has never been stronger under the Trump administration,” said Hugh Dugan, a former senior director of the National Security Council (NSC) under President Trump. rice field. “Historians would say that Abe’s career culminated in the Trump era. Prime Minister Abe’s cooperation and promotion with Taiwan has raised concerns about China’s view of opportunities with Taiwan and skillfully triangulated. Was done. “
Fox News Digital Abe’s support for strengthening the US presence in the region “provided Trump with the ability to make a successful overture to Kim and North Korea,” said Dugan, a special envoy to the hostage affairs. Told.
The People’s Republic of China has long claimed sovereignty over the relatively narrow waters between Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, and between Taiwan Island and mainland China. Chinese troops have frequently sent planes to the area to test Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
Japan sees China’s increasingly aggressive military activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea as a threat to regional stability. Tokyo is particularly sensitive to China’s activities near conflicting islands.
Shinzo Abe assassination; Tetsuya Yamagami Who is the suspect?
The day before Abe’s assassination, officials from the People’s Republic of China, who were in charge of relations with Taiwan, claimed that “unification” between the two countries was approaching.
The eyebrows comment was published in the People’s Daily, a newspaper run by the Chinese government, on Thursday.
Liu Jieyi, who leads China Taiwan Secretariat, China has expressed hope that it will regain Taiwan in the near future.
Click here to get the Fox News app
According to a translation from the South China Morning Post, “Our growing inclusive power and significant institutional benefits continue to transform into the efficiency of work related to Taiwan’s problems, driving the process of national unification.” Said.
Liu also threatened a violent crackdown on the “Taiwan independence army” and a stronger backlash against foreign intervention in the conflict.