Ministry spokesman denounces Japan's move to honor Taiwan separatist

China on Wednesday voiced strong opposition in response to the Japanese government awarding the Order of the Rising Sun to former "Taiwan's Representative in Japan" Hsieh Chang-ting during its 2025 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals.

Japan's insistence on proposing and granting an honor to an individual who openly advocates "Taiwan independence" represents another wrongful move by the Japanese side on the Taiwan question, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a daily news briefing on Wednesday.

"The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and bears on the political foundation of China-Japan ties and basic credibility of Japan," Guo said. "It is a red line that must not be crossed."

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. It is also the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan.

China urges Japan to take a hard look at its responsibility for its war crimes, abide by the one-China principle with concrete actions, under the guiding principles of the four political documents between the two countries, be prudent on the Taiwan question, and stop sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Guo said.