Taiwan secessionists trapped in corner against int'l support for one-China principle: expert

The secessionist forces in Taiwan region are finding themselves isolated in a corner as the one-China principle is overwhelmingly supported by the international community, a Taiwan studies expert said.

Liu Kuang-yu, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies, made the statement in response to several countries' refusal to grant flight permits to Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for his planned visit to Eswatini.

Lai's office made a sudden announcement Tuesday, just a day before the planned visit, that the trip was "postponed" after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar denied flight permissions for his transit. It marks the first time the leader of the Taiwan region canceling a trip due to overflight permit denial.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the Taiwan Island again blamed the mainland for the failed visit, even directing criticism at Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, who had recently returned from a mainland visit, in an attempt to discredit her trip as "ineffective".

"This move is clearly ill-intentioned. They are playing the old cards of flaming hostility, hatred and resistance against the mainland, while throwing mud at opposition parties. Because they are in a very bad position in terms of public opinion, and desperately in need of using this incident as something that could counter the positive effect that peaceful cross-Strait development brings to the island," said Liu.

All African countries, with the sole exception of Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with China.

State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han on Wednesday expressed appreciation for relevant countries' adherence to the one-China principle. She noted that the incident once again proved that the one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and a prevailing consensus of the international community, a statement echoed by Liu.

"From the Lai side's reaction, we can see this incident sent a rather big political shock. Essentially, this reflects that the one-China principle is becoming increasingly consolidated internationally and gaining more and more international support, while Taiwan secessionist forces are viewed as outcasts. We could say the Lai authorities are stuck in a corner and doomed for failure," Liu said.

Taiwan secessionists trapped in corner against int'l support for one-China principle: expert

Japanese citizens took to the streets of Tokyo's Shinjuku district on Saturday, voicing strong opposition to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration for lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports, advancing a "National Intelligence Agency" bill, and pushing for the revision of the country's postwar pacifist constitution.

On Tuesday, the Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, officially revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines.

The revisions scrap the restrictions that had limited arms exports to five non-combat categories, allow, in principle, the export of lethal weapons, permit transfers to nations engaged in active conflict under specified circumstances, and sideline parliament from the decision-making process, crossing a line that previous governments had at least nominally upheld.

"Allowing the export of lethal weapons and even attempting to possess nuclear arms, the Takaichi administration is leading Japan toward war, despite our postwar commitment of never starting a war again. Many people are worried. This must be stopped," said a protester.

The cornerstone of Japan's pacifist constitution is Article 9, which renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts. For decades, this article has been a fundamental constraint on Japan's military endeavors.

"I am firmly opposed to amending the Constitution. Takaichi claims 'the time has come,' but that's just her own decision. Without Article 9 of the Constitution, Japan could be swept into America's wars. That must not happen," said another participant.

"Japan once invaded other Asian countries and has maintained a pacifist constitution ever since. But now the government has arbitrarily decided to lift the ban on exporting lethal weapons without sufficient parliamentary debate. It's unacceptable," said another demonstrator.

"If we abandon our stance as a peaceful nation under the constitution, it would be absolutely intolerable. Thanks to Article 9, Japan hasn't waged war or been pulled into conflict. For Japan's place in the international community, Article 9 must not be changed," said another protester.

Tokyo protesters oppose Takaichi’s lethal weapons export, constitution revision plans