BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) — Japan must correct its mistake and immediately withdraw its unjustified comments related to China’s Taiwan, otherwise it must bear all the consequences arising from this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Thursday.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently said that the Chinese mainland’s “use of force against Taiwan” could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and refused to retract her statement implying the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
“This constitutes a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs and a challenge to China’s core interests, as well as an infringement of China’s sovereignty. China firmly opposes these statements and will in no way tolerate them,” Lin said at the regular press conference.
“The Japanese leader’s attempt to involve herself in cross-strait affairs is a grave affront to international justice, a blatant provocation to the post-World War II international order and a major blow to China-Japan relations,” he said.
“If Japan dared to interfere in the Strait situation, this would constitute an act of aggression and would definitely be met with a firm response from China,” he said. “We firmly exercise our right to self-defense in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law, and to defend China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The Chinese spokesperson warned the Japanese side not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue. “Those who play with fire perish in it,” Lin said.
Lin noted that despite China’s serious representations and protests, Takaichi still refuses to change course and retract what he said.
The improper statements seriously violate the one-China principle, the guiding principles set out in the four China-Japan political documents and the basic norms of international relations, he added.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It is also the 80th anniversary of China’s recapture of Taiwan.
“Japan committed countless crimes during its colonial rule in Taiwan. In the past century, Japanese militarists have waged aggression on more than one occasion under the pretext of a ‘survival-threatening situation’. For example, Japan brazenly created the September 18 Incident under the pretext of exercising the right to self-defense,” Lin said, adding that Japan’s aggression against China caused untold suffering to the people of China, the rest of Asia and the world. in general.
“What does Prime Minister Sanae Takaichii intend by reviving the phrase ‘survival-threatening situation’? Is Japan going to repeat the past mistakes of militarism? Is Japan once again trying to antagonize the Chinese and other Asian peoples? Is Japan seeking to subvert the post-World War II international order?” the spokesperson asked.
Stressing that Taiwan belongs to China, Lin said how to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification is a matter for the Chinese people to decide and does not tolerate any interference from any external force.
“Our message to Japan is clear: Japan must fully repent of its war crimes, immediately cease its wrong and provocative statements and actions that interfere in China’s internal affairs, and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan issue,” he said. End
