Japan says China’s Taiwan Strait military exercises increase tensions, urges peaceful resolution and has conveyed its concerns to Beijing.
TOKYO: Japan has stated that China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Foreign ministry press secretary Toshihiro Kitamura said Japan has conveyed its concerns to the Chinese side regarding the drills.
“It has been the consistent position of the Government of Japan that it expects that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue,” Kitamura said in a statement.
He added that peace and stability in the strait are important for the entire international community.
Japan will continue to monitor related developments with strong interest, according to the statement.
China’s drills this week involved dozens of fighter aircraft and navy vessels conducting live-fire exercises.
The manoeuvres simulated a blockade of Taiwan’s key ports and assaults on maritime targets.
China claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has not ruled out using force to seize the island.
Japan’s relations with China have deteriorated recently after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo could intervene militarily in a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
