Hong Kong Leader Raps Takaichi’s Taiwan Remarks

Hong Kong, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Hong Kong leader John Lee on Monday strongly criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her recent remarks about Taiwan. These extremely erroneous remarks hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and challenged the postwar international order, Lee said in what appears to be the first public comments by a Hong Kong official about Takaichi’s remarks. Lee said that Takaichi’s remarks have severely deteriorated the atmosphere for personnel exchanges between China and Japan and cast doubt on the effectiveness of many exchanges. He added that Hong Kong’s arrangement must align with the nation’s dignity and the benefits of citizens. The Japanese leader told parliament earlier this month that a Taiwan conflict could allow her country to exercise its right to collective self-defense. A Hong Kong student delegation has pulled out of a regional exchange program in Japan next month for safety concerns in light of the recent increase in attacks on Chinese citizens in Japan, Hong Kong media said. On Nov. 15, Hong Kong’s security authorities urged its citizens to exercise heightened vigilance when visiting Japan. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]