On October 8, former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso characterized Taiwan as a “neighboring country of Japan” during a National Day celebration at the Okura Hotel in Tokyo, organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Japan. Senior Japanese journalist Akio Yaita pointed out on the “Akio Yaita Club” Facebook page that Aso underscored the importance of a friendly relationship between Taiwan and Japan, despite their lack of formal diplomatic ties. He also referred to the coincidence of the founding of the Republic of China with Japan’s Taisho era, marking over 113 years of shared history. This statement aligns with recent comments by President Lai Ching-te about Taiwan’s national identity and is likely to elicit a strong reaction from China, highlighting Aso’s intention to show support for Taiwan.
Having previously held the roles of Prime Minister and Foreign Minister under Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, Aso is well-acquainted with Japan’s diplomatic policies and the weight of his words. Yaita noted the significance of Aso’s statement within the current geopolitical context.
What prompted Aso to make these remarks now? Yaita identified two main reasons. First, he pointed to growing dissatisfaction with China, which has been marked by recent incursions of Chinese military aircraft into Japanese airspace and unannounced ballistic missile tests. Furthermore, there has been a tragic incident involving the death of a Japanese student in China, which has been met with a lack of transparency and a dismissive attitude from the Chinese authorities.
Secondly, Yaita suggested that Aso’s comments may also serve as a subtle critique of current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Recent cabinet appointments have favored pro-China figures, effectively sidelining Aso’s faction and weakening the influence of his longtime allies, including supporters of former Prime Minister Abe. Aso’s role as the party’s vice president has been relegated to a ceremonial position.
Despite Aso’s faction and Abe’s faction largely backing Sanae Takaichi in the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election on September 27, tensions have heightened due to perceived snubs from the new appointments. Reports indicate that Aso refused to shake hands or take photos with Ishiba after the announcement, leaving the event in frustration. His recent comments could reflect a sense of detachment from the diplomatic challenges confronting Ishiba’s government.
Ultimately, Yaita suggests that Aso’s main goal is to assert a strong commitment to Taiwan, especially in light of the declining influence of the “pro-Taiwan” faction in Ishiba’s cabinet. As a former Prime Minister, Aso made a point to attend the National Day event to publicly reaffirm Japan’s support for Taiwan.
As of October 9, Ishiba announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives. Yaita reported that the 84-year-old Aso has returned to his home in Fukuoka Prefecture to prepare for the upcoming elections. If circumstances proceed as expected, Aso is likely to return to the Diet in about three weeks, ready to challenge the current leadership when the opportunity arises.
