According to reports, an interview with Taiwan’s foreign minister published in an Israeli daily has ruffled Chinese feathers.
The Chinese embassy in Israel called the Jerusalem Post editor, Yaakov Katz, and demanded that the interview be taken down.
“Didn’t take long. Got call from Chinese embassy. Apparently I’m supposed to take down the story or they will sever ties with the @Jerusalem Post and downgrade relations with the State of Israel,” Katz tweeted immediately after the item went live. “Needless to say, story ain’t going anywhere.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned of the threat presented by China’s authoritarian leadership in the interview.
Didn’t take long. Got call from Chinese embassy. Apparently I’m supposed to take down the story or they will sever ties with the @Jerusalem_Post and downgrade relations with the State of Israel. Needless to say, story ain’t going anywhere. https://t.co/BypRMTbc6W
— Yaakov Katz (@yaakovkatz) May 30, 2022
“When dealing with China, you should never accept preconditions because once you accept preconditions, you lose no matter what,” Wu stated. “And when you worry about China getting angry and give in, or make pledges that you shouldn’t make concessions, China also wins.”
He advised Israel not to be concerned about upsetting China, saying that if they are, it shows they are doing something right.
Taiwan continues to be a thorn in Beijing’s side, which views the island nation as a renegade state. Fears of an invasion have grown in recent months as a result of Russia’s bloody military assault of Ukraine.
In the latest flare-up of tensions, Taiwan reported the greatest invasion by China’s air force in its air defense zone since January, with Taiwanese fighters scrambling to warn away 30 aircraft, according to the island’s defense ministry.
