Photo: screenshot from the Chinese Embassy to Japan
Following a response from a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday regarding Japanese leader's wrongful comments and actions concerning the Taiwan question on the sidelines of APEC meetings, the Chinese Embassy to Japan also issued a response on Sunday stating that China expresses firm opposition and strong protest and has made serious démarches to Japan.
In response to a question concerning that on the sidelines of the APEC meetings, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with personnel from the authorities of China's Taiwan region and posted messages and photos on social media, referring to the person as "senior advisor to the Presidential Office of Taiwan," a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy to Japan stated on Sunday that the Japanese side, disregarding solemn stance of the Chinese side, insisted on meeting with personnel from the authorities of China's Taiwan region on the sidelines of the APEC meetings and publicly sensationalized the event. This seriously violates the one-China principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and the basic norms of international relations. It constitutes a gross interference in China's internal affairs and a provocation against China's sovereignty and security interests, stated the spokesperson.
The spokesperson emphasized that there is only one China in the world, and the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China. There is no so-called "president," let alone a "senior advisor to the Presidential Office of Taiwan." The Taiwan question concerns China's core interests, the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and the basic trust between the two countries. It is a red line that must not be crossed. Improving and developing China-Japan relations must be based on adhering to the one-China principle, the spokesperson stated.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of China resuming the exercise of sovereignty over the island of Taiwan and the restoration of Taiwan, Japan should deeply reflect on its historical crimes of colonizing Taiwan and exercise greater caution in its words and actions regarding Taiwan-related matters. China strongly urges Japan to abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and the commitments it has made so far, stop sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces, take concrete measures to eliminate the negative impact, and truly implement its stated intention to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era, according to the spokesperson.