November 18, 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Bangkok, Thailand, on the evening of November 17. The talks were their first in-person meeting since Prime Minister Kishida took office. During the approximately 40-minute exchange, Prime Minister Kishida reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and conveyed Japan’s concern over China’s human rights record. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) strongly affirms and appreciates these statements.
MOFA has always welcomed international concern over the situation across the Taiwan Strait as well as positive actions that contribute to the preservation of regional peace. Since the Kishida cabinet was formed, the Japanese government has repeatedly affirmed that Taiwan and Japan share the core values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law and that Taiwan is an important partner and valuable friend of Japan. The Japanese government has also done its utmost to focus international attention on the cross-strait situation and the status of human rights in China. At important international meetings this month, including the ASEAN, Japan-US, and Japan-US-ROK summits, Japan demonstrated its resolute stance as a member of the democratic community.
With the spread of authoritarianism challenging the international order, MOFA will actively join like-minded countries in defending universal core values, promoting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and advancing a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.