By Zhang Zhenye
张振业
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent fallacious remarks on Taiwan constitute a flagrant violation of the fundamental principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries under international law. Her rhetoric also runs directly counter to the solemn commitments made by the Japanese government to China, and amounts to a blatant provocation against China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any individual or force attempting to meddle in the cross-Strait situation or obstruct China's great cause of reunification will inevitably reap the bitter consequences and ultimately be burned by the very fire they ignite.
日本首相高市早苗近日的涉台谬论，不仅严重违反不干涉他国内政的国际法基本原则，严重违背日本政府对中国政府的郑重承诺，更是对中国主权与领土完整的公然挑衅。任何人、任何势力妄图介入台海局势、阻扰中国统一大业，必将自食苦果、玩火自焚。
Takaichi's comments represent a serious breach of the basic principle of international law on non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries is a cornerstone of international law and the lifeline of a stable international order. At its core lies respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries, and the prohibition of interfering in another country's internal affairs under any pretext. The UN General Assembly has, over the years, adopted a series of resolutions that further elaborate on the specific implications of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal Affairs of States, adopted in 1981, sets out fourteen core obligations of non-interference. Among them, it emphasizes “the duty of a state to refrain from the promotion, encouragement or support, direct or indirect, of rebellious or secessionist activities within other states, under any pretext whatsoever, or any action which seeks to disrupt the unity or to undermine or subvert the political order of other states.”
高市早苗言论严重违反不干涉他国内政的国际法基本原则。不干涉他国内政是国际法的基石，是维系国际秩序稳定的生命线，其核心要义在于尊重各国主权独立与领土完整，禁止以任何借口介入他国内部事务。联合国大会陆续通过多项相关决议，细化了国家间不干涉内政的具体内涵。1981年通过的《不容干涉和干预别国内政宣言》，明确界定了不干涉内政的14项核心义务，其中强调“各国有义务避免以任何借口直接或间接地促进、鼓励或支持其他国家内部的叛乱或分裂主义活动，并避免采取任何谋求破坏其他国家统一或颠覆其政治秩序的行动”。
The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China and how to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese. It brooks no foreign interference. The Cairo Declaration jointly issued by China, the US and the UK in 1943 stipulates clearly that all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, shall be restored to China. It is reiterated in the Potsdam Proclamation signed by China, the US and the UK in 1945, and subsequently recognized by the Soviet Union, that “the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.” In September of the same year, Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender, in which it promised that it would faithfully fulfill the obligations laid down in the Potsdam Proclamation. In 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, restoring the legitimate seat of the People's Republic of China at the United Nations. It is clarified that there is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China. This resolution has been widely recognized by the international community. Today, all 183 countries that have established diplomatic relations with China acknowledge the one-China principle. Takaichi's fallacious remarks on Taiwan completely ignore historical facts and the basic norms of international law. These remarks constitute a typical act of interfering in China's internal affairs and fully expose her entrenched right-wing stance and inherently provocative nature.
台湾问题纯属中国内政，如何解决台湾问题是中国人自己的事，不容任何外部干涉。1943年中美英三国发表的《开罗宣言》明确规定，日本将窃取于中国的领土，包括台湾和澎湖列岛归还中国。1945年，中美英三国发表、苏联后来加入的《波茨坦公告》，重申“开罗宣言之条件必将实施”。同年9月，日本签署《日本投降条款》，承诺“忠诚履行波茨坦公告各项规定之义务”。1971年联合国大会第2758号决议恢复中华人民共和国在联合国的合法席位，明确世界上只有一个中国，台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分，中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。这一决议得到国际社会普遍认同，目前与中国建交的183个国家均承认一个中国原则。高市涉台谬论完全无视历史事实与国际法准则，是典型的干涉中国内政的行径，充分暴露了其顽固的右翼立场与挑衅本质。
What is even more deplorable is that her statements gravely violate the solemn commitments made by the Japanese government and run counter to the fundamental principle of estoppel in international law. Japan has repeatedly affirmed the principles set out in the four political documents, including the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, that it recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing China. These commitments carry clear legal effect under international law. Takaichi has made erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan and has shown no remorse, refusing to retract them. Such behavior gravely undermines the post-war international order, seriously violates the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and damages the political foundation of China–Japan relations. It has also inflicted severe harm on the feelings of the Chinese people and stands in stark contradiction to the political commitments the Japanese government has made to date, which is extremely abominable both in nature and implication. Looking back on history, Japan has repeatedly used the so-called survival-threatening situation as a pretext to launch wars of aggression. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender. We urge Japan to face history squarely, respect facts, abide by international law and the four political documents between the two countries, and stop and correct its erroneous words and deeds on the Taiwan question. It must not allow itself to be hijacked by the narrow self-interest of a handful of short-sighted politicians.
更令人不齿的是，高市早苗的言论严重违背日本政府作出的郑重承诺，违反了国际法中“禁止反言”的基本原则。日本在《中日联合声明》等四个政治文件中反复确认，“承认中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府”。这些承诺具有明确的国际法效力。高市早苗发表错误涉台言论，还不思悔改，拒不撤回。这种行径严重破坏战后国际秩序，严重违背一个中国原则和中日四个政治文件精神，严重破坏中日关系政治基础，严重伤害中国人民感情，同日本政府迄今所作政治承诺严重不符，性质和影响极其恶劣。回望历史，日本曾多次以所谓“存亡危机”为借口主动挑起战争。今年是日本无条件投降80周年，奉劝日本正视历史、尊重事实，恪守国际法准则与中日四个政治文件精神，停止和纠正在台湾问题上的错误言行，切勿被个别政客的鼠目寸光和狭隘私利所绑架。
Those who act in bad faith will ultimately destroy themselves. The Chinese people have rock-solid determination and unshakable will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Should Japan dare to take reckless actions or even attempt to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait, it will inevitably crash into the Great Wall of steel formed by the People's Liberation Army and pay a heavy price.
背信妄为终自毙。中国人民捍卫国家主权和领土完整的决心坚如磐石，意志不可动摇。日本若胆敢铤而走险，甚至武力介入台海局势，必将在中国人民解放军的铜墙铁壁面前碰得头破血流，付出惨痛代价。