China has issued a strongly worded condemnation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over comments made in the parliament last week that Beijing says suggest the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the remarks “grossly violate the one-China principle, the guiding principles of the four China–Japan political documents, and basic norms governing international relations.” He described the comments as “a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs” and “a challenge to China’s core interests.”
Lin warned that China “firmly opposes and will by no means tolerate such remarks,” calling on Tokyo to “correct its wrongdoing at once and retract the unjustified statements.” Failure to do so, he added, would leave Japan responsible for “all the consequences arising therefrom.”
The furor began when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on November 7 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan — which lies just 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Japanese territory — would constitute “a situation threatening Japan’s survival” and could prompt a military response from Tokyo.
Beijing further accused Japan of invoking language reminiscent of its past militarism, saying the phrase “survival-threatening situation” had been used historically as a pretext for aggression. Lin questioned whether Prime Minister Takaichi intended to revive militaristic tendencies, asking if Japan sought to “repeat past mistakes” or “subvert the post–World War II international order.”
Reaffirming Beijing’s long-standing position, Lin stated that “Taiwan belongs to China,” and that the question of reunification was “a matter for the Chinese people to decide” without foreign interference.
He issued a pointed warning: “If Japan should dare to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait situation, it would constitute an act of aggression and would face a firm and resolute response from China.” He added that China would exercise its right to self-defense under the UN Charter to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Our message to Japan is clear,” Lin concluded. “Japan must fully repent for its war crimes, stop its wrong and provocative statements, and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it.”
