Annual Japan-China lawmaker meeting nixed last month over Beijing’s bid to one-up Taiwan

The Japan Times
Date: Dec. 14, 2019

A meeting of Japanese and Chinese politicians was canceled last month after Beijing demanded that more come from Tokyo than those who visited Taiwan in October, diplomatic sources said Saturday.

China requested that over 40 Japanese lawmakers take part in the meeting of their ruling parties in Gansu province, more than double the 19 who attended Taiwan’s National Day ceremony.

Beijing criticized the visit to Taiwan and said, “The number of Japanese lawmakers visiting China should be more than double that for Taiwan,” the sources said.

The request came as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party appeared set to win again in the 2020 presidential election in January, according to local polls.    [FULL  STORY]