Taiwan President Shows Solidarity with Japan Through Sushi Lunch Amid Rising China Tensions

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te was photographed enjoying sushi on Thursday, with images shared across his social media platforms as a gesture of solidarity with Japan amid rising tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over potential Japanese seafood import restrictions.

The diplomatic conflict escalated after Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Japan could provide military assistance if Taiwan were attacked. This statement angered China, which maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to use force to bring the self-governed island under its control.

President Lai, known for his firm stance on Taiwan's sovereignty and frequently criticized by Beijing, posted a smiling photo of himself holding a plate of sushi on Facebook with the caption: "Today's lunch is sushi and miso soup," accompanied by hashtags highlighting yellowtail from Kagoshima and scallops from Hokkaido.

Similar content appeared on his X account, with messages in Japanese, while his Instagram featured a video encouraging followers to consider enjoying Japanese cuisine. "It fully shows the strong friendship between Taiwan and Japan," Lai remarked while displaying the sushi plate.

China's foreign ministry dismissed Lai's posts as a "stunt," following reports that Beijing would suspend Japanese seafood imports, though neither government has officially confirmed this action.

The diplomatic standoff has already resulted in China summoning Tokyo's ambassador, issuing travel advisories against visiting Japan, and delaying the release of Japanese films in China.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning insisted Japan should "behave with dignity" and take "concrete actions," including retracting Takaichi's statement, to mend bilateral relations. "Simply asserting that its position (on Taiwan) remains unchanged does nothing to address China's concerns," she stated at a press briefing.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara had previously maintained that Japan's position regarding Taiwan remained consistent despite the Prime Minister's comments.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accused the Chinese Communist Party of employing "economic coercion and military intimidation to bully other countries," while encouraging Taiwanese citizens to support Japan through tourism and purchasing Japanese products.

"At this critical moment, we must support Japan to be able to stabilise the situation, to stop the CCP's bullying behaviour," Lin stated on Thursday.

US ambassador to Japan George Glass pledged American support for Japan during this dispute. "Coercion is a hard habit to break for Beijing," Glass wrote on X. "But just as the United States stood by Japan during China's last unwarranted ban on Japanese seafood, we will be there for our ally again this time."