A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers known as the “Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association” participated in the inauguration ceremony of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on May 20. The Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao, made controversial remarks referring to a “pit of fire,” prompting a protest from the Japanese government. On June 1, the Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association sent a protest letter to Wu Jianghao, emphasizing their support for Taiwan.
According to reports from the Central News Agency, on May 20, Wu Jianghao claimed during a seminar at the Chinese Embassy in Japan that the group of Japanese parliamentarians attending President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration ceremony was “openly aiding Taiwan independence forces” and that “if Japan ties itself to the anti-China bandwagon, the Japanese people will be led into a pit of fire.”
Keiji Furuya, the chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association who led the visiting delegation to Taiwan, held an emergency meeting on June 1 at the House of Representatives Second Members’ Building with about 30 attendees. The meeting discussed the visit to Taiwan on May 20 and mentioned that among the members of the delegation attending the inauguration ceremony, five district parliamentarians in the Kansai region recently received “intimidation letters” from the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian.
In the letters, Xue Jian stated that the Japanese parliamentarians visiting Taiwan were supporting the separatist forces of “Taiwan independence,” sending a severely misguided political message. He also issued a warning stating, “Strongly hope that you refrain from any contact or interaction with Taiwan, understand and support the Chinese people’s opposition to Taiwan independence, and devote yourselves to the just cause of promoting national unity, to safeguard the overall situation of Sino-Japanese relations.”
Regarding Wu Jianghao’s “pit of fire” remarks and the “intimidation letters” sent by Xue Jian to Japanese parliamentarians, Furuya said at a press conference, “It is intolerable, unbelievable, and out of line.”
In the protest letter addressed to Wu Jianghao, the Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association stated that the purpose of the delegation’s visit to Taiwan was to deepen ties with Taiwan as not only an old friend but also a true friend, without any intention of dividing China.
The letter pointed out that Taiwan elected a new president through fair and democratic elections and is an important friend sharing common values. They expressed their hope for peace and stability in Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, stressing the importance of deepening cooperation and exchanges.
The Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association considered Wu Jianghao’s remarks to be highly inappropriate and firmly protested against them. As Japanese parliamentarians, they affirmed that they would continue to act in accordance with their conscience and fulfill their duties.
Furuya stated that the protest letter was addressed to “Wu Jianghao, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Japan,” and included Xue Jian as the target of the protest.
During the press conference, Furuya mentioned considering inviting former President Tsai Ing-wen to speak in various locations in Japan. Regarding the feasibility of this within the year, Furuya commented, “If this matter were to be announced, it is foreseeable that it would face obstacles from many directions.” He added that the invitation could proceed discreetly, but the Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association believed that extending a formal invitation to former President Tsai to visit Japan might happen soon.
Moreover, the Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association decided to establish four new groups to deepen exchanges with Taiwan, including a group to assist Taiwan in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a group for exchange among female legislators, a group to promote local exchanges, and a group for investigating the Taiwan Relations Act.
Concerning the “intimidation letters” sent by Xue Jian to Japanese parliamentarians, Jin Matsuhara, a member of the delegation attending the inauguration ceremony on May 20 and a member of the Japan-Taiwan Legislators’ Association, raised the issue during the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and questioned Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.
Matsuhara expressed, “This is clearly an act of intimidation, demanding that Japanese parliamentarians refrain from contact with Taiwan. Isn’t this interference in internal affairs?” He continued, “The Consul General of China in Osaka threatens Japanese parliamentarians; the Chinese Ambassador says the Japanese people will be led into a pit of fire. Isn’t this going too far?”
Matsuhara emphasized that the Japanese government should not simply express regret and called for diplomatic actions to designate individuals like Wu Jianghao as “persona non grata” in diplomatic terms and expel them from the country.
In response, Kamikawa stated, “Regarding the points you mentioned, I am not in a position to answer what specific actions will be taken in the future.”