Japan Minister accused China of using Covid-19 to expand its influence

During two panels in the 17th Nikkei-CSIS security symposium, Japanese reform minister Taro Kono accused China of using COVID-19 as a method to expand influence.
October 25, 2020 | 00:00
china signs pact to share year round water data with mekong river commission China signs pact to share year-round water data with Mekong River Commission
india hands over missing chinese soldier India hands over missing Chinese soldier
captured chinese soldier by india along disputed mountain border updates Captured Chinese soldier by India along disputed mountain border, updates
2855 capture
Japanese reform minister Taro Kono. (Photo: Reuters)

The 17th Nikkei-CSIS security symposium took place on October 23, attended by top diplomacy, security, and political experts worldwide. The event hosted each fall by Nikkei and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, was held partially online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During the panel talks, Japanese reform minister Taro Kono criticized China's provocative actions in contested territories while using "health diplomacy" - aiding with vaccines and masks - to quiet dissent as its neighbors grappled with the coronavirus pandemic.

"They are trying to further strengthen their influence against the background of this coronavirus infection," Kono said. "In many countries, there are not enough masks and medicines, and China is developing mask diplomacy to launch what is called the 'Health Silk Road' as part of the Belt and Road Initiative."

If Southeast Asia fully falls under China's influence, the U.S.-Japan alliance's strategy for a free and open Indo-Pacific region will not work, said Shinichi Kitaoka, president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

3255 capture
A virtual panel discussion of CSIS/Nikkei symposium in Tokyo on Oct. 23. (Photo: Nikkei)

In prerecorded remarks, Kono described a shift in U.S. priorities, from the war against terrorism to competition with China.

"The United States has entered an era of long-term strategic competition with revisionist nations, including China," he said. "The strategy has changed radically from the fight against terrorism."

Despite the change in his cabinet portfolio, Kono's tone on China did not change from speeches made while at the helm of the foreign and defense ministries. Kono once more pointed to China's increasingly aggressive actions in territorial rows, including one involving the disputed Senkaku Islands or Diaoyudao Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, those with other nations in the South China Sea, and with India in the Himalayas.

In August, Mr. Kono warned that China's seeking to change the status quo in the South China Sea could face a strong reaction from the international community. He also declared any country seeking to change the status quo in the East China Sea by force would pay a heavy price.

asean un pledge greater efforts to build rules based international order ASEAN, UN pledge greater efforts to build rules-based international order.

ASEAN and the United Nations have re-affirmed their resolve to promote multilateral cooperation and build a rules-based international order.

bien dong sea issue caught attentions as related parties take new moves Bien Dong Sea issue caught attentions as related parties take new moves

The US carrier strike group returns to the South China Sea, while the Philippine government seems to promote oil and gas cooperation with China in ...

vietnam protests chinas illegal business registrations on paracel archipelago Vietnam protests China’s illegal business registrations on Paracel archipelago

All business registration behaviours relating to Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago hold no value, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted on October 15.

Phiên bản di động