BEIJING: A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday urged Japan to retract its Taiwan-related remarks or bear all consequences.
Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks during a regular press briefing in response to a question about Japanese Prime Minister Sanaen Takaichi’s refusal to retract her comments regarding China’s Taiwan region.
Lin stated that Takaichi recently made provocative remarks about Taiwan that suggest the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. “Despite China’s serious demarches and protests, the Japanese side remains obstinate and refuses to withdraw its remarks,” he said.
He stated that the remarks were wrongful and severely violated the one-China principle, the guiding principles outlined in the four China-Japan political documents, and the basic norms of international relations.
He added that those remarks constitute blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, challenge China’s core interests, and infringe on China’s sovereignty.
“China strongly opposes and will by no means tolerate such remarks,” Lin said, adding that the Japanese side must correct its wrongdoing immediately and retract the unjustified comments. Otherwise, all consequences arising from this must be borne by the Japanese side.
Lin noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It is also the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan.
He said Japan committed countless crimes during its colonial rule in Taiwan. Over the past century, Japanese military forces have launched aggression more than once, claiming it was under the pretext of “survival-threatening situation,” he said.
For example, Japan brazenly created the September 18 Incident under the pretext of exercising the right of self-defense, and its aggression against China brought immense suffering to the people of China, the rest of Asia, and the broader world, said Lin.
“What’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi up to by reviving the phrase ‘survival-threatening situation’? Is Japan about to repeat its past mistakes of militarism? Is Japan trying to once again make enemies of China and other Asian people? Does Japan attempt to subvert the post-WWII international order?” he questioned.
He emphasized that Taiwan belongs to China and added that how to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people to decide, which brooks no interference from any external force.
He said that the Japanese authorities’ attempts to interfere in Taiwan affairs not only trample on international justice and constitute a provocation on the post-war international order, but also seriously damage China-Japan relations.
If Japan should dare to meddle in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression and would definitely provoke a firm response from China, Lin noted.
He said China will firmly exercise its right to self-defense under the UN Charter and international law, and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Our message to Japan is clear: Japan must fully repent for its war crimes, immediately stop its wrong and provocative statements and moves that interfere in China’s internal affairs, and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it,” he added. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
