The Chinese government has lodged a protest against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's expression of gratitude to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-en for posting a message of support to Japan on Twitter amid the spread of new coronavirus, according to a Japanese government source.
China, which raised the objection through diplomatic channels, is seen as being wary of deepening ties developing between Japan and Taiwan in the battle to contain the pandemic, as it pursues its "one China" policy.
On Tuesday, when Abe declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures, Tsai tweeted in Japanese that the two can join hands and "win this battle."
Abe responded the following day with a tweet of his own: "I'm grateful for the warm support. Let's beat the virus, and overcome this hardship together."
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, viewing Abe's post as problematic, lodged the protest with the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, the Japanese government source said.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
