Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Monday slammed Japan for hiding and fudging its position on the Taiwan question, urging the Japanese side to earnestly retract its wrongful statements.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said previously that having renounced all rights and claims under the "Treaty of San Francisco," Japan is not in a position to recognize Taiwan's legal status. When asked about whether it means that Japan does not recognize China's sovereignty over Taiwan on Friday, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi repeated what's said in the "Treaty of San Francisco," and said that the Japanese government's basic position on Taiwan is as stated in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, and nothing more and nothing less, according to reports.
In response to the reports, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said that whenever asked, the Japanese side simply would not mention the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation or the Japanese Instrument of Surrender - all of which made clear that Taiwan be restored to China, nor the four political documents that serve as the political foundation of China-Japan relations, nor the political commitment made by the Japanese government to the one-China principle.
All the Japanese side has done is dodging the issue by claiming that its position "remains unchanged," he said, adding that not even once has the Japanese side fully articulated what exactly that position is.
"The Cairo Declaration and other international legal documents not only clearly affirm China's sovereignty over Taiwan, but also represent major achievements of the World Anti-Fascist War, forming an important part of the post-WWII international order. Compliance with their relevant provisions constitutes an international legal obligation that Japan must fulfill, and is also a prerequisite for Japan's post-War reintegration into the international community. Yet Japan now completely ignores these legally binding documents while persistently citing a document that deliberately excludes the Asian neighbor most severely affected by Japanese colonial aggression, particularly China. This is a disregard for the painful memory of Japan's militaristic aggression, a desecration of the historical truth of World Anti-Fascist War, and a blatant challenge to the authority of the United Nations and the post-WWII international order," Lin said.
"In recent years, Japan has significantly adjusted its security policies, increased its defense budget year after year, and sought to revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. Certain forces in Japan are vigorously attempting to break free from the constraints of Japan's pacifist constitution, seeking to violate the obligations of a defeated nation stipulated by international law. These individuals have never truly learned a lesson from history. They have never genuinely faced up to or reflected upon Japan's heinous crimes committed during the war, nor have they ever effectively curbed the resurgence of militarism within Japan. Instead, they attempt to whitewash the country's aggression through distorted narratives and evasive tactics, hoping to make the world forget and absolve themselves of responsibility. Such tactics cannot deceive the world," he said.
"Japan has been evasive in words and obstinate in actions, which China will never accept. On major issues of principle, Japan should never imagine it will get away with it. We urge Japan to learn from history, reflect on its words, take China's demands seriously, and earnestly retract its wrongful statements. It must demonstrate its political commitment to China through concrete actions," said the spokesman.
Spokesman slams Japan's continued evasion of internationally binding documents on Taiwan question
