China blasts Japan for allowing delegates to pay floral tribute at Shinzo Abe's funeral

Foreign dignitaries after offering flowers at the altar during the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Sept. 27, Beijing - The Chinese government blasted Japan on Sept. 27 for allowing delegates to pay a floral tribute separate from Chinese representatives during the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

At a regular news conference, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The one-China principle is a widely accepted norm governing international relations and a consensus of the international community. He said Tokyo must handle matters in strict accordance with the principle and not provide any platform or opportunity for Taiwan independence separatist forces to engage in political manipulation. On September 27, China sent Wan Gang, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body and other officials to Abe's funeral.

The Taiwanese delegation included Su Jia-chyuan, head of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, which serves as a liaison with Japan, and Wang Jin-pyng, a former legislative speaker.

The Chinese and Taiwanese delegations were seated away from each other at the funeral. Their turns to offer flowers to the altar were also separate, an arrangement made by the Japanese government apparently in light of their tense relations.

After representatives from all countries finished doing so, the Taiwanese delegation paid their floral tribute.

When the Taiwanese delegates arrived, the announcement at the venue was called Taiwan. International organizations took their turns to offer flowers.

Abe was known as a pro-Taiwan politician who had close ties with former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui.

Abe spread the news on social media after China banned the import of Taiwanese pineapples. After the novel coronaviruses struck, he helped secure vaccines for Taiwan.

After Abe's murder in July, the Taiwanese government and private sector joined together in mourning his death.

A statue of Abe was unveiled this month in the southern city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan.