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JAPAN TO PROVOKE CHINA ON TAIWAN BEFORE TRILATERAL SUMMIT: Japan announced it is sending a 30-man delegation, the largest they’ve ever sent, to Taiwan’s presidential inauguration on 20 May.
The delegation intends to meet the incoming president, vice president, and speaker, but the government has not finalized the arrangement.
Citing a 2006 declaration by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that “A contingency for Taiwan is a contingency for Japan,” China’s foreign ministry is already declaring this to be a move toward an independence declaration with foreign support.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen also awarded the Order of the Brilliant Star yesterday to China’s most recent Ambassador from Japan, Hideo Tarumi, for his contributions to Taiwan’s development as a nation.
Why It Matters: Japan is sending a message to Taiwan and China that they recognize Taiwan as already independent. This is likely to undermine the China-Japan-South Korea Head of State summit, which has not been held for five years and is planned for 26 May in South Korea. Additionally, the Chinese Coast Guard could be ordered to be more aggressive on their 365-day patrol around the Senkakus this year. – J.V.