These days, Tokyo has been uncharacteristically explicit in its comments regarding Taiwan.

When Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited Washington in April, the U.S. and Japan made a clear-cut mention of “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” and encouraged the “peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.” In late May, the EU-Japan summit elicited a similar joint statement.

Furthermore, the Group of Seven foreign ministers in May issued a communique that included a statement “supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in World Health Organization forums and the World Health Assembly. The international community should be able to benefit from the experience of all partners, including Taiwan’s successful contribution to the tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic.”