Beijing has firmly dismissed recent statements from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, labeling them as “prevarication” and insisting on a full retraction of her earlier comments. The diplomatic dispute stems from remarks made by Prime Minister Takaichi in early November, which have significantly strained relations between the two nations.
In a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Prime Minister Takaichi attempted to de-escalate the situation by stating that Japan’s “fundamental position regarding Taiwan remains unchanged from that stated in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique.” However, she did not elaborate on the specifics of the communique or, more importantly, withdraw her controversial statement from November 7th.
That statement, in which she suggested that a military attack on Taiwan by the People’s Liberation Army could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, has been the primary source of contention. Such a classification could, under Japanese law, authorize the mobilization of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. This marked the first time a post-World War II Japanese leader has publicly linked a Taiwan contingency to the potential deployment of its military, causing a sharp downturn in diplomatic relations with Beijing.
In response to Prime Minister Takaichi’s latest remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated on Thursday, “Prime Minister Takaichi is still prevaricating by claiming that the Japanese side’s position remains unchanged. China absolutely does not accept this.” This statement underscores Beijing’s position that nothing less than a complete and unambiguous retraction of the November 7th comments will be sufficient to resolve the issue.
The ongoing diplomatic friction highlights the sensitive nature of Taiwan’s status in the region and the delicate balance of power between China and Japan. As the situation unfolds, the international community will be closely watching for any further developments or shifts in the political landscape of East Asia.
If she intends to retract her statement and admit her erroneous remarks and she has to say it in the face of the hurt party (China), and not through other people or third party.