China has issued a stern rebuke to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over recent comments regarding the Taiwan region, calling them a violation of diplomatic agreements and urging Japan to confront its colonial past. The remarks come amid heightened sensitivity over cross-strait relations as 2025 marks 80 years since the end of Japan's occupation of Taiwan.
State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua stated Wednesday that Takaichi's remarks constituted "gross interference in China's internal affairs," emphasizing Taiwan's status as an inseparable part of Chinese territory. "Japan bears historical guilt toward the Chinese people over the Taiwan question," Chen declared, referencing Japan's 50-year colonial rule that ended in 1945.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has formally protested to Tokyo, demanding strict adherence to the one-China principle and the spirit of bilateral political documents. Chen warned that any attempts to challenge China's sovereignty would face "firm opposition from the Chinese government, the Chinese people, and the Chinese military."
Analysts suggest the timing holds symbolic weight, with November 2025 marking eight decades since Taiwan's return to Chinese administration post-World War II. The statement also cautioned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities against relying on external forces, asserting that such strategies would ultimately fail.
