By Junsheng
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi remarked in a Diet debate that a Taiwan emergency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" warranting Japan's exercise of the right of collective self-defense, implying Japan's possible military involvement in the Taiwan Strait.
Her blatant provocation regarding Taiwan seriously violates the one-China principle, the principles in the four political documents between China and Japan, and the basic norms governing international relations. It grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, challenges China's core interests, and infringes on China's sovereignty. It is an act of trampling on international justice, a brazen provocation against the post-war international order, and a grave sabotage of China–Japan relations.
The intent behind such remarks is extremely sinister; their nature, extremely egregious; their impact, extremely harmful; and the consequences, extremely dangerous. The Chinese government, the Chinese people, and the Chinese military deplore and firmly reject this. Japan must immediately correct its mistake, retract these malicious statements, and stop going further down this wrong path, otherwise, it will bear all the consequences.
China and Japan are important, close neighbors linked by the sea. Promoting the long-term, sound, and steady development of China–Japan relations serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and meets the shared aspiration of the international community.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China. The restoration of Taiwan to China is a major outcome of the victory in the War of Resistance and an essential component of the post-World War II international order. It rests on an unshakable foundation in international law. The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China and how to resolve it is a matter only for the Chinese. It brooks no outside forces' interference.
Yet, shortly after assuming office, Sanae Takaichi has spoken recklessly and issued blatant provocations, becoming the first Japanese leader since Japan's defeat in 1945 to openly advocate in an official setting the fallacy that "a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency." Takaichi Sanae ignores indisputable historical facts and realities, attempting to bind China's Taiwan with Japan's so-called "security interests." This exposes her ignorance of both history and reality, and reveals the Japanese right wing's ambition to intervene in Taiwan by force. It is nothing less than issuing a military threat against China.
For some time, Japan has been pushing for a qualitative transformation of its defense strategy, rushing headlong down a dangerous path of military expansion and rearmament, and rapidly turning itself into a "war-capable state" no longer constrained by its pacifist Constitution. With moves such as revising its three national security documents, vigorously developing offensive weaponry, and sharply raising defense spending to 2 percent of its GDP, Japan is becoming a major source of risk that undermines regional peace and stability.
Eighty years ago, the brave Chinese people, after fourteen years of bloodshed and resistance, defeated the Japanese aggressors. Eighty years later, should Japan misjudge the situation and dare to intervene militarily in cross-Straits situation, such moves would constitute an act of aggression and China will give it a resolute, head-on blow. We will resolutely exercise the right of self-defense granted by the UN Charter and international law, and firmly safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In fact, the so-called survival-threatening situation cited by Sanae Takaichi is nothing more than a complete facade that cannot fool anyone. Historically, the Japanese militarism repeatedly used alleged "survival-threatening" as pretexts to launch external aggression, promoting claims such as Manchuria and Mongolia are Japan's lifeline and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which brought untold suffering to the peoples of Asia, including China, and even the world.
Today, as Takaichi once again throws out the rhetoric of an alleged "survival-threatening," she must make it clear to the Japanese public and the international community: Is Japan preparing to repeat the disastrous path of militarism? Is it seeking to once again set itself against the Chinese people and other peoples of Asia? Is it attempting to undermine the post-war international order?
The Taiwan question is at the heart of China's core interests and is a red line and bottom line that must not be crossed. Achieving complete national reunification is a common aspiration of all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation, and the sacred mission of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). In the face of the PLA's rock-solid determination and will, as well as its strong and reliable capabilities, any external interference forces will be crushed to ashes.
We sternly warn the Japanese side, if it fails to draw profound lessons from history, dares to take reckless risks, or even attempts to militarily intervene in the Taiwan Strait, it will be playing with fire and will inevitably pay an unbearable price.