Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai arrived in Tokyo on Monday on a “private visit” for the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Japan’s de facto embassy in Taiwan.
Lai’s previously unannounced visit made him the highest-ranking Taiwanese official to visit Japan in the 50 years since diplomatic relations broke down between Japan and the Republic of China—the official name of Taiwan in 1972.
China has consistently protested against foreign officials allowing travel or transit to Taiwan or senior government officials from Taiwan, as the self-governing democratic island remains part of its territory, despite the Communist Party never ruling it. As claimed.
Taipei has underestimated Lai’s visit.
“Vice President William Lai has been a long-time friend of Prime Minister Abe and his family. Taiwan’s presidential spokesman, Kolas Yotaka, told CNN that Vice President is deeply saddened by Abe’s passing and grateful for his unique contribution to the relationship between Taiwan and Japan.
In a statement, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it had no further information or comment on Lai’s “personal programme”, which senior government officials including President Tsai Ing-wen, Premier Su Tseng-chang and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said. paid to. did. His respects to Abe at the de facto embassy of Japan in Taipei on Monday morning.
In a statement to CNN, Japan’s foreign ministry said Lai would “privately” attend Abe’s funeral during a “private visit”.