Japan nixed China envoy’s calls to eject Taiwanese representative at reception

The Presidential Office Building is seen in Taipei in this 2020 file photo

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sept. 16 condemned China over an incident where a Chinese ambassador demanded that a Taiwanese representative be ejected from a reception to celebrate the Japanese Emperor’s birthday hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Denmark in February.

A Danish newspaper reported the incident on Sept. 14, and the Taiwanese foreign ministry acknowledged the event during a press conference on Sept. 16, accusing China of ignoring the civility required in international activities.

According to the Taiwanese foreign ministry and other sources, Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng saw Robin Cheng, head of the Taipei Representative
Office in Denmark, present at the reception held at the Japanese ambassador’s official residence, and demanded Japanese organizers eject Cheng. When Japanese officials declined the request, Wang pointed his finger at Cheng and expressed dissatisfaction, and left the venue.

Upon an inquiry by the Mainichi Shimbun, the Japanese Embassy in Denmark explained that while Chinese Ambassador Wang protested to Japanese Ambassador Hideki Uyama at the venue, the latter did not accept the complaint.

The embassy stated that it invited the Taipei Representative Office as an economic and cultural organization, and that it had previously invited the group. “As a sovereign state, our embassy has the discretion to decide whom to invite,” the embassy told the Mainichi.

About 200 people attended the reception, including Danish government officials, business representatives and foreign diplomatic delegations.

Taiwan has no formal diplomatic relations with either Denmark or Japan, and the Taipei Representative Office in Denmark deals with practical relationships.