Taiwan’s envoy to the recent APEC summit dismissed Chinese complaints about his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, labeling such encounters as customary for summit attendees.

China had criticized the meeting on the sidelines of the summit in South Korea, following Takaichi’s post on social media. In response, Taiwan’s Lin Hsin-i stressed the routine nature of these diplomatic interactions.

Despite lacking formal relations, Japan supports Taiwan, a stance reinforced after Takaichi’s past suggestions of forming a ‘quasi-security alliance.’ Taiwan’s government maintains its independent stance against China’s claims.