Midterm Results Draw Reactions From Tokyo and Beijing
Democrats retook both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, and the first reactions in Asia came on Wednesday. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters the results will not affect the strength of the Japan-US security alliance, which he called the cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy, according to Kyodo News.
The South China Morning Post reported that Beijing vowed to keep working with Washington toward a “constructive relationship of strategic stability”, while analysts quoted by the newspaper said a Democratic-led Congress could increase pressure on China over Taiwan, artificial intelligence and export controls.
Separately, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said Taiwan has no right to join Interpol, arguing that participation in international organisations must follow the one-China principle, according to state media Xinhua via CGTN.
Whether the new Congress changes US policy toward Taiwan remains an open question.