Japan’s foreign minister reaffirms Taiwan stance based on 1972 communique
On 15 December, during a parliamentary session, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reiterated the country’s official stance on Taiwan as laid out in the 1972 joint communique. The document states that Japan severed diplomatic ties with Taipei and established them with Beijing. This position is crucial for understanding Japan’s foreign policy orientation in the region.
Source Scmp
Responding to a question from Taku Yamazoe, a member of the Japanese Communist Party, Motegi emphasized that Japan’s policy aligns with the 1972 communique and respects China’s position as outlined in Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration. However, he deliberately omitted the part asserting Taiwan as an integral part of China.
This reaffirmation reflects Tokyo’s cautious approach to Taiwan-related issues, aiming to ease tensions with Beijing while maintaining diplomatic flexibility in the region.
