Japan must stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question

Beijing has every reason to express its firm opposition to the remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with regard to Taiwan and to lodge the solemn representation and strong protest it did with Tokyo.

On Friday, Takaichi implied that Japan would mobilize its armed forces in the event of a "Taiwan contingency", saying it would constitute a "survival-threatening situation".

Takaichi's provocative remarks in the Diet seem driven by a deliberate intention to establish the position as official government policy, which actually harms Japan's interests and threatens regional peace and stability. Not surprisingly therefore there are concerns within Japan that Takaichi is creating unnecessary diplomatic tensions with China.

As The Asahi Shimbun observed, her remarks go beyond the government's existing stance. It reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan tried to downplay Takaichi's remarks as her personal opinion.

Takaichi's remarks blatantly interfere in China's internal affairs, and seriously violate the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, as well as the basic norms of international relations.

It should not be forgotten that her wrongful comments and actions concerning Taiwan on the sidelines of APEC meetings in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, prompted the Chinese side to express its firm opposition and make serious demarches and protests to Japan on Nov 1.

As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian pertinently asked, what signal is the Japanese leader trying to send to the "Taiwan independence" separatists with her remarks? Is she attempting to challenge China's core interests and obstruct China's reunification? And where is she trying to steer Sino-Japanese relations?

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China. Given its long history of colonial rule over Taiwan, Japan bears undeniable historical responsibilities on the Taiwan question and therefore should all the more act with extra prudence.

The Japanese authorities' attempt to intervene in cross-Strait affairs is not only a trampling on international justice and a provocation against the postwar international order, but also does serious damage to Sino-Japanese relations.

In her meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Oct 31, Takaichi clearly said that Japan would abide by its position on the Taiwan question stated in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement, which acknowledges and respects Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, and that her government would work to advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit in solid steps so as to build a constructive and stable relationship between the two countries.

But she is saying one thing and doing another.

The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and at the core of China's core interests. How it is handled bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and basic trust in Japan.

The Chinese people have the firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capability to resolutely crush all attempts to interfere in and obstruct China's great cause of national reunification.

The Takaichi government should heed Beijing's urging that it immediately stop its provocations and transgressions, and not go further down the wrong path of interfering in China's internal affairs.

That China and Japan are immovable neighbors is an unalterable fact. Japan should work with China to better shoulder its responsibility for peace and stability in the region.