Tokyo, May 17 -- The mayor of Nagasaki has said that Taiwan will not be invited to this year's events marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, a decision widely seen as influenced by pressure from China, Taiwan News reported.

The announcement has sparked backlash from local Japanese officials, who criticised the exclusion of Taiwan from a global commemoration of peace and remembrance.

Mayor Suzuki Shiro's stance drew strong condemnation from Kobe City Councilor Uehata Norihiro, who called the decision "deplorable." He sharply criticised the influence of Beijing in the matter, stating, "Anyone listening to China was not qualified to speak about peace," according to a report by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).

The exclusion...