Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching Te has stated that Japan and Taiwan »need» to establish a military dialogue mechanism to »safeguard peace amid China’s growing strength in the region» during a meeting with a Japanese think tank on the situation in East Asia.
During the meeting, Lai noted that both Japan and Taiwan share the values of »freedom and democracy» and »directly confront totalitarian states such as China and North Korea,» the Japan Times reported.
The vice president also emphasized the importance of military cooperation between the two countries, calling it »indispensable» to avoid war.
Lai is the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party for the presidential elections next January.
These statements come at a time when tensions in the area continue to rise, especially since the trip to the island by the then Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, in August last year.
Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the territory under its sovereignty. The Chinese government’s fundamental policy toward Taiwan has so far been one of peaceful reunification under the »one country two systems» principle.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
