TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Amid escalating tensions between China and Japan, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Monday urged Beijing to restrain itself and avoid disrupting regional stability.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Archives Administration, Lai was asked by the media about rising tensions between China and Japan, per
CNA. He said China’s “hybrid attacks” on Japan pose a serious threat to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Lai called on the international community to continue monitoring the situation closely. He urged China to “exercise restraint, demonstrate the demeanor of a responsible major power, and refrain from being a troublemaker in the region.”
The president called on China to return to the rules-based international order, saying this would better contribute to regional peace, stability, prosperity, and development. He then urged Beijing to “think twice.”
When asked about former President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) criticism that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae was being “reckless,” Lai responded that the US ambassador to Japan, George Glass, has publicly praised Takaichi, saying her remarks help strengthen US–Japan relations and support regional peace and stability.
Lai further urged Taiwanese political figures, especially those in the opposition, to respect Japan’s domestic politics and pay attention to regional developments, saying it is inappropriate to give negative interpretations of Japan’s political actions.