Foreign Minister Taro Kono expressed support on Wednesday for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly in a move that could anger China.
It marks the first time Japan has publicly supported Taiwan's bid to attend the annual meeting of the WHA, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, which this year is scheduled to take place in Geneva from May 20 to 28.
Kono wrote on his Japanese-language Twitter account that it is essential to strengthen the ability to respond to global public health crises and to prevent the occurrence of geographical gaps in infectious disease control.