Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has recently made blatant and provocative remarks on Taiwan, claiming that a possible use of force by the Chinese mainland on Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. Despite China's repeated solemn representations, the Japanese side has shown no remorse and has refused to retract these erroneous statements. Such actions seriously violate the one-China principle, grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, and send a gravely misguided signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests and is a red line and bottom line that must not be crossed. 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.
It is well known that Japan bears an undeniable and grave historical responsibility for the Taiwan question. After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, Japan forcibly seized Taiwan and imposed nearly half a century of colonial rule. During this period, the people in Taiwan suffered profoundly. Hundreds of thousands of Taiwan compatriots were killed. Civilians were reduced to "subjects of a lost nation," deprived of political rights, religious freedom, and cultural autonomy. The island's mineral resources and essential livelihood materials were plundered with no restraint.
The atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders in Taiwan were countless, marking one of the darkest chapters in Taiwan's history. It was through the arduous and bloody struggle of the entire Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots, that the great victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was won, leading to Taiwan's recovery and putting an end to Japan's occupation and exploitation. This victory closed the tragic chapter in which the people in Taiwan were oppressed and enslaved.
The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the US and the UK in 1943 made it clear that Taiwan and all the other territories Japan stole from China shall be restored to China. Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation, jointly issued by China, the US, the UK and the Soviet Union in 1945, stipulates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. On August 15, 1945, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced unconditional surrender.
Later in 1972, Japan pledged in the China-Japan Joint Statement that it firmly maintains its position under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, signed in 1978, clearly stated that the principles set out in the statement should be strictly observed. The treaty, deliberated and approved by the legislators of the two countries, and together with the China-Japan Joint Statement, constitute legally binding documents that provide guidance for the bilateral ties.
These historical facts and legal foundations fully demonstrate that Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and that its status was conclusively resolved in 1945 with the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. As for the means by which the Taiwan question is to be resolved and China's complete reunification achieved, this is entirely a matter for the Chinese people. No party has the right to make irresponsible remarks, and Japan, bearing undeniable historical culpability, should exercise even greater prudence.
Yet for some time, Japan has continued to make negative and destabilizing moves regarding the Taiwan question. Right-wing politicians in Japan have colluded with "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, repeatedly hyping up the narrative that "a Taiwan contingency is a Japanese contingency" and peddling the so-called China threat theory. Such maneuvers reveal their geopolitical ambition to use Taiwan as a strategic fulcrum, to divert Japan from its post-war path of peaceful development, and to undermine the post-war international order established on Japan's defeat.
Shortly after taking office, Sanae Takaichi insisted on meeting with personnel from China's Taiwan region during the APEC meeting, and even posted photos on social media using incorrect appellation to deliberately stir up the issue. In recent days, she has gone further, making reckless remarks that implicitly suggest possible military intervention in the Taiwan question, fully exposing her political ambition to exploit the so-called Taiwan Strait security issue as a pretext to further undermine the constraints of Japan's Pacifist Constitution and accelerate her agenda of constitutional revision and military expansion.
In response to Takaichi's gravely erroneous statements and egregious attitude, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Chinese Embassy in Japan have all issued strong representations and stern warnings. Her malicious attempt to "use Taiwan to contain China" has provoked intense indignation among Chinese people on both sides of the Straits. Voices across Taiwan's society have also sharply criticized her irresponsible rhetoric for deliberately instigating cross-Strait confrontation and aggravating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, revealing the sinister nature of Japanese right-wing politicians, who lack historical conscience and seek to sow chaos in the Straits.
In the past, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait stood shoulder to shoulder, fought bravely, and ultimately defeated the invaders. Today, we will never tolerate or allow the dark remnants of history to resurface or revive. The attempt by Japanese authorities to interfere in the Taiwan question is a complete misjudgment of the situation and an act of overestimating their own strength. If they refuse to repent, they will be knowingly tying themselves to the chariot of those seeking to divide China, and will inevitably face the joint condemnation and resolute counterstrike of the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
No one or force should underestimate the Chinese people's determination, volition and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Regardless of how external forces try to create disturbances, the historical trend that China will and must achieve reunification is unstoppable.
Certain Japanese politicians must bear firmly in mind that stirring up trouble over the Taiwan question is courting trouble for themselves. At the same time, we sternly warn the DPP authorities that any reckless move, any attempt to rely on external forces to separate Taiwan from China, will only find itself on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people.