The future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, Wang slammed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan region.
"The future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice. Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In such a special year, Japan should have deeply repented of the wrong path it chose, including its brutal invasion and colonization of Taiwan. Yet the current Japanese leader claimed that a Taiwan contingency could constitute the so-called 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan, under which Japan may exercise its so-called 'right of collective self-defense'," said Wang.
"It's well-known that the right of self-defense shall be invoked only when a country has come under armed attack. One would ask: Since Taiwan affairs are purely China's internal affairs, what gives Japan the right to interfere with them? Why is Japan entitled to invoke self-defense if anything happens in China's Taiwan region? Is exercising the 'right of collective self-defense' simply a way to hollow out Japan's Pacifist Constitution, which renounces the right of belligerency? Given that Japanese militarists had used 'survival-threatening situation' as pretext for launching aggression, such rhetoric can only make the people in China and the rest of Asia alert and deeply worried: Where exactly is Japan headed?" said Wang.
Wang also pointed out that this year also marks another significant 80th anniversary -- that of the opening of the Tokyo Trials.
"Eighty years ago, judges from 11 countries commenced proceedings that would span two and a half years, reviewed a mountain of irrefutable evidence, and laid bare the innumerable crimes of Japanese militarists. The Tokyo Trials, a litmus test of humanity's conscience, delivered historical justice. Eighty years on today, Japan is given another opportunity for serious soul-searching. As Chinese adages remind us, 'History is a mirror that reflects the rise and fall of human affairs' and 'The past, if not forgotten, can serve as a guide for the future.' We hope the Japanese people will keep their eyes wide open and never allow anyone foolish enough to tread again the same disastrous path today," said the foreign minister.
China is already a strong country, said Wang, adding that the 1.4 billion people of China will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse history's verdict on aggression.
Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice: Chinese FM
Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice: Chinese FM
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday that the international landscape should be based on an equal and orderly multipolar world where every nation can find its place and play its role, stressing that global affairs cannot be dominated by a handful of major countries.
Wang was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, China’s national legislature, during which he elaborated on China’s proposition on how the international landscape should evolve.
"There is no doubt that China and the United States have a significant impact on the world, but we should not forget there are more than 190 countries on our planet. World history has always been written by all the countries together, and the future of humanity will be forged through the collective efforts of all nations. Diversity is the inherent nature of human society, and multipolarity is what the international landscape should look like," he said.
Wang said China rejects the path of hegemony and the idea that global governance can be run by a few powerful states.
"Looking back into history, great-power rivalry and bloc confrontation have invariably inflicted disaster and pain on humanity. Therefore, China will never take the beaten path of seeking hegemony as its strength grows, nor do we subscribe to the logic that the world can be run by major countries. China has inscribed in its Constitution that it follows an independent foreign policy and is committed to pursuing a path of peaceful development. Chinese leaders have often declared to the world that no matter how the international situation evolves and how strong China becomes, it will never seek hegemony or expansion," Wang said.
The foreign minister also outlined China's vision for the international landscape, where all nations, regardless of size or strength, are equal members of the international community.
"As for how the international landscape should evolve, China's proposal is to build an equal and orderly multipolar world. 'Equal' means every nation, regardless of size or strength, is an equal member of the international community, and can find its place and play its role in a multipolar world. 'Orderly' means all countries should uphold the widely recognized international rules, namely the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations," said Wang.
He also said countries around the globe should shoulder their responsibilities to build a multipolar, rules-based world, underpinned by international law.
"Building an equal and orderly multipolar world should be the common responsibility of all countries. With more resources and capabilities, major countries should be more generous, shoulder more responsibilities, and set an example of observing rules, honoring commitments and upholding international law. China will continue to play a constructive role in reforming global governance, and work with all countries toward a multipolar world," Wang said.
Int’l landscape should be based on equal, orderly multipolar world: Chinese FM
