Asahi Shimbun and others reported on the 9th that the Chinese government expressed its protest to the Japanese government regarding the visit of Cho Jung-tai, Premier of Taiwan (equivalent to Prime Minister), to Japan.

Cho Jung-tai, Premier of Taiwan [EPA Yonhap News] 

According to diplomatic sources, Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, called Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese Ambassador to China, on the evening of the 7th to protest.

The Chinese Embassy in Japan also made a protest call to Masaaki Kanai, Director of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The protest is in response to Premier Cho's visit to Japan on the same day to watch the World Baseball Classic (WBC) C Pool group stage game between Taiwan and the Czech Republic held at Tokyo Dome.

Given that Japan and Taiwan have severed diplomatic relations, the visit of a sitting Taiwanese Premier to Japan is considered an unusual event.

It is known that this is the first visit by a Taiwanese Premier to Japan since the severance of diplomatic ties between Japan and Taiwan in 1972.

In this regard, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that some Taiwanese media outlets have framed it as a "diplomatic breakthrough through baseball."

However, Premier Cho stated, "I was simply cheering for the Taiwanese team," and "there was no other purpose."

The Japanese government also refrained from commenting on Premier Cho's visit.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, a government spokesperson, said at a regular press conference that day, regarding reports that Premier Cho visited Japan to watch a WBC game, "We understand that the Taiwanese side has explained it as a personal matter," and "the government is not in a position to comment."

When asked about whether there had been any contact with Japanese officials, he added, "There has been no contact with Japanese government officials."

At the press conference, Minister Matsuno was also asked about the transport of long-range missile equipment into a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force base in Kumamoto, Kyushu, early that morning. He responded, "We have been refraining from answering detailed questions regarding equipment transport in order to ensure the security of unit operations and the safety of transportation."

Furthermore, despite reports that Japan would release strategic reserves as international oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel that day, Minister Matsuno denied this, stating, "There has been no decision made to release national strategic reserves."