China lashed out at Abe over former leader’s Taiwan warning

BEIJING (AP) – China is lashing out at Shinzo Abe after Japan’s former prime minister warned of serious economic and security consequences of any Chinese military action against the island. A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said that Prime Minister Abe said nonsense, pointed fingers at Taiwan affairs and made irresponsible remarks on China’s internal affairs. He said China has protested to Japan through diplomatic channels. China claims self-governing Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary and has increased its military threat by holding exercises near the island and regularly flying aircraft. fighting into their air defense identification zone. Abe made his remarks in a virtual speech to a Taiwanese think tank.