March 25 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching Te has stated that Japan and Taiwan “need” to establish a mechanism for military dialogue to “safeguard peace amid China’s growing strength in the region” during a meeting with a Japanese study group on the situation in East Asia.
During the meeting, Lai pointed out that both Japan and Taiwan share the values of “freedom and democracy” and that “they directly confront totalitarian states such as China and North Korea,” according to the ‘Japan Times’ newspaper.
The vice president has also emphasized the importance of military cooperation between the two countries, and has described it as “essential” 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 increase, especially since the then-Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, traveled to the island in August of last year.
Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the territory under its sovereignty. The Chinese government’s fundamental policy towards Taiwan has so far been one of peaceful reunification under the “one country, two systems” principle.
