Taiwan’s President Supports Japan with Sushi Amid China Dispute

URGENT UPDATE: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has made headlines by publicly supporting Japan through a sushi display amid escalating tensions with China. Just hours ago, Lai posted images on social media holding a plate of sushi, signaling solidarity with Tokyo after reports emerged that China plans to halt Japanese seafood imports.

The diplomatic row intensified following remarks by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, suggesting military intervention in Taiwan if attacked. This statement has drawn ire from Beijing, which asserts that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory. China has threatened military action to assert control over Taiwan, complicating regional stability.

In a post on his Facebook page, Lai shared a cheerful photo of himself with sushi, stating, “Today’s lunch is sushi and miso soup,” and included hashtags referencing seafood from Kagoshima and Hokkaido. He further encouraged followers on Instagram, suggesting, “now might be a good time to eat Japanese cuisine.” Lai emphasized, “It fully shows the strong friendship between Taiwan and Japan,” highlighting the human impact of this unfolding crisis.

China’s foreign ministry quickly condemned Lai’s social media posts as a “stunt.” This came after Japanese media reported on September 27 that China would suspend seafood imports from Japan. Neither government has officially confirmed this move, but the tensions have already led to significant diplomatic actions, including China summoning Tokyo’s ambassador and warning its citizens against traveling to Japan.

The fallout extends to cultural exchanges as well, with reports indicating that the release of at least two Japanese films in China will be postponed. On September 25, Japan scrambled military aircraft in response to a suspected Chinese drone near the southern island of Yonaguni, close to Taiwan, further raising the stakes.

In a statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning urged Japan to “behave with dignity,” insisting that concrete actions, including retracting Takaichi’s comments, are necessary to mend ties. “Simply asserting that its position (on Taiwan) remains unchanged does nothing to address China’s concerns,” she stated during a press conference.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass reaffirmed Washington’s support for Tokyo, stating, “Coercion is a hard habit to break for Beijing.” Glass emphasized that the U.S. would stand by Japan, just as it had during China’s previous seafood ban. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara reiterated that the nation’s stance on Taiwan remains “unchanged.”

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung echoed this sentiment, asserting that the Chinese Communist Party employs tactics of economic coercion and military intimidation against other nations. He urged Taiwanese citizens to support Japan during this critical moment, saying, “We must stabilize the situation to stop the CCP’s bullying behavior.”

As tensions continue to rise, foreign correspondent Anna Coren from CBS News highlighted that no apparent off-ramp is emerging to ease the strain between Tokyo and Beijing. Japan dispatched a senior diplomat to Beijing on September 26 for talks, but progress remains elusive.

With these developments unfolding rapidly, observers are left questioning how this diplomatic standoff will resolve, and what further actions both Japan and Taiwan will take in the face of China’s escalating pressure. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.