Mainland spokesman calls on Takaichi to retract Taiwan comments

A Chinese mainland spokesman said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent reaffirmation of Tokyo's position on Taiwan is unacceptable, urging Japan to reflect and retract the wrongful remarks.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, reiterated that Takaichi's erroneous statements about Taiwan in the Diet constitute blatant interference in China's internal affairs.

On Nov 7, Takaichi told the Diet that a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, prompting strong opposition from the Chinese mainland.

Takaichi also recently stated that Japan's basic stance on the Taiwan question remains fully consistent with the 1972 China-Japan Joint Statement, in which Japan said it understands and respects that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China".

Chen said Takaichi attempted to brush off concerns from the Chinese mainland and the international community by repeatedly asserting that "Japan's position has not changed".

"This is unacceptable. Japan should earnestly reflect and immediately retract the wrongful remarks," Chen said, stressing once again that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and will not tolerate external interference.

Chen also criticized Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for echoing Takaichi's erroneous remarks, describing his response as driven by a malicious pursuit of "Taiwan independence". "His ingratiating behavior toward Japan is disgraceful and utterly futile," Chen said.

According to media reports, the Chinese mainland has recently deployed a large number of naval and coast guard vessels into East Asian waters.

In response to a media inquiry about the deployment, Chen said, in reference to Takaichi's remarks, "We will thoroughly crush any attempt to meddle in the Taiwan Strait."

He said the Democratic Progressive Party authorities' efforts to seek "independence" by colluding with Japan and other external forces amount to a serious misjudgment of the situation and a grave miscalculation.

"'Taiwan independence' means war, and it is a dead end," Chen warned, adding that regardless of how stubbornly separatist forces resist or how external actors attempt to create disruptions, the historical trend of China's reunification is inevitable and unstoppable.