Remarks by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on the Result of the "Presidential" Election in Taiwan

March 18, 2000

In today's "presidential" election held in Taiwan, Mr. Chen Shui-bian was elected as the new leader.
Japan expects that under such new circumstances, the issue relating to Taiwan will be settled peacefully through direct dialogue between the parties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and that this dialogue will be promptly resumed.
Japan, based on the Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China of 1972, will maintain its exchanges of private and regional nature with Taiwan as non-governmental working relations, whereas furthering stable and cooperative relations with China.

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