Advertisement
Japan may include Taiwan among nations giving flowers at Abe funeral, which could trigger reaction from China
- If carried out, sources said Japan is likely to refer to the self-ruled island as Taiwan, not as ‘the Republic of China’, its official name for itself
- In recent years, China has become more alert to risks from closer Japan-Taiwan ties, and is asking Tokyo respect ‘political foundations’ of their relations
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
28
Japan is planning to include Taiwan among the names of countries to be read aloud during flower offerings at former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s state funeral next week, government sources said on Saturday.
Advertisement
The plan appears to have been made out of consideration for the close ties Abe had built with Taiwan until he was killed by a shooter during a campaign event in early July. If carried out, the sources said Japan is likely to refer to the self-ruled island as Taiwan, not as “the Republic of China”, its official name for itself.
But treating Taiwan as a country at the state funeral on Tuesday could still trigger a strong reaction from mainland China, which regards the democratic island as a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Advertisement
Around 4,300 people are expected to attend the service at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo. Of them, the government has said about 700 are likely to be from 218 foreign countries and regions, as well as international organizations.
China is expected to send Wan Gang, vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, to the ceremony.
Advertisement