Lai Ching-te's move of ingratiation towards Japan contemptible, meaningless: spokesman

Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's move of ingratiation towards Japan is contemptible and meaningless, said Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a regular press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

At a plenary session of the House of Councillors on Dec. 3, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that "the Japanese government's basic position regarding Taiwan remains as stated in the 1972 China-Japan Joint Statement, and there has been no change to this position."

"The [Chinese] Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated its solemn position on this. Here I want to stress again that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair that brooks no external interference. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi blatantly made erroneous remarks on Taiwan at the Diet. Her remarks grossly interfered in China's internal affairs. In face of doubts and criticisms from China and the international community, Takaichi's perfunctory response of 'no change in Taiwan-related position' is unacceptable as a response to China. The Japanese side must reflect on its wrongdoing and retract the erroneous remarks immediately," said Chen.

"With his evil aim of seeking secession, Lai Ching-te pandered to Takaichi's erroneous remarks in a complete loss of stance of the Chinese nation. His move of ingratiation towards Japan is contemptible and meaningless," the spokesman said.

Takaichi had previously claimed during a Diet meeting on Nov. 7 that the Chinese central authorities' "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, which immediately drew strong criticism at home and abroad.

Lai showed support for Takaichi on Nov 20 by posting a photo of himself eating Japanese cuisine on social media. Netizens in Taiwan satirized that Lai's supportive gesture for the Japanese leader ended up in vain.

Lai Ching-te's move of ingratiation towards Japan contemptible, meaningless: spokesman

How to resolve the Taiwan question is solely a matter of the Chinese people, which brooks no external interference, said Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, on Wednesday.

Chen made the comments at a regular press conference in Beijing in response to a media query about the recently released U.S. national security strategy, which mentions China's Taiwan region eight times.

"The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair. How to resolve the Taiwan question is solely a matter of the Chinese people, which brooks no external interference. The U.S. side should earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, deliver on its leaders' solemn political commitments, handle the Taiwan question with extra prudence, stop abetting and aiding the attempt of the Taiwan separatist forces to seek secession through military buildup, and stop sending any wrong signal to the Taiwan separatist forces. We would like to issue a stern warning to the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that any attempt to seek secession by relying on external forces and military buildup is doomed to failure," said the spokesman.

How to resolve Taiwan question solely matter of Chinese people: spokesperson