If Japan refuses to withdraw its erroneous remarks, all consequences will be borne by itself: Spokeswoman

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning warned on Wednesday that if Japan refuses to withdraw Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent remarks on Taiwan, or persists in its wrongdoing, China will have no choice but to take severe and resolute countermeasures. All consequences arising from such measures will be borne by the Japanese side, according to Mao.

Her comments came after Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Tokyo does not intend to withdraw Takaichi's recent remarks on Taiwan as they are consistent with Japan's long-standing position.

In response, Mao stressed that Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan have fundamentally undermined the political foundation of China-Japan relations and triggered strong indignation and condemnation among Chinese people.

China urges Japan to retract the remarks, stop creating provocations on issues related to China, and take concrete steps to acknowledge and correct its mistakes so as to safeguard the political foundation of bilateral ties, she added.