China files fresh protest with Japan over PM Takaichi's remarks

Beijing lodged solemn representations to Tokyo again over erroneous remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, as Chinese and Japanese officials held consultations in Beijing on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

The consultations were held between Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, and Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Mao, the Chinese side stressed that Takaichi's ridiculous remarks gravely violate international law and basic norms governing international relations, severely undermine the postwar international order, and seriously breach the one-China principle and the spirit of the four China-Japan political documents.

Takaichi's remarks had "fundamentally damaged the political foundation of China-Japan relations" and were egregious in terms of both the nature and impact, thus provoking "strong indignation and condemnation among the Chinese people," Mao said.

She said Beijing sternly urged Tokyo to retract the remarks, stop creating tensions on issues involving China, and take concrete actions to correct its mistakes and safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations.