Hong Kong Leader Slams Japan Ties Over Taiwan Remarks, Aligns with Beijing's Cooling

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Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has cast doubt on the value of exchanges with Japan, echoing Beijing's stance following a dispute over Taiwan. Lee's comments come after a Kyodo News report that Hong Kong's investment promotion agency told Japan's envoy it would not participate in an event to promote business exchanges. The city's leader emphasized that government arrangements must align with 'national dignity' and the interests of Hong Kong residents. This move is seen as a further alignment with Beijing's national policy, following previous curbs on imports of seafood from Japan in response to the Fukushima nuclear plant's wastewater release plan. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked the latest furor by linking a Taiwan Strait crisis with the possible deployment of Japanese troops, drawing swift retaliation from Beijing. Hong Kong has since followed China in issuing travel alerts for Japan, with many Chinese airlines waiving cancellation fees on tickets to the country.