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Tokyo's provocations on Taiwan question face growing backlash

Global Times

Negative words, deeds break cautious stance maintained by previous Japanese PMs, to deal heavy blow to ties: expert

By Xu Keyue Published: Nov 12, 2025 11:20 PM

Commenting on a media report that on Tuesday, the Japanese government presented the decoration of the Order of the Rising Sun to Hsieh Chang-ting, former head of "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on Wednesday that "The Japanese government took another wrong step on Taiwan by proposing and promoting the conferment to someone advocating 'Taiwan independence.' China firmly opposes this."

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests. It bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and the basic credibility of Japan, and is a red line that must not be crossed, the spokesperson stressed.

China seriously urges Japan to deeply reflect on its responsibility for the war crimes, abide by the principles and spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, honor its commitments on upholding the one-China principle with concrete actions, stay prudent on the Taiwan question, and stop sending any wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, the spokesperson stressed.

In less than a month since Takaichi Sanae took office, the Japanese government has repeatedly stirred up tensions and challenged China's red lines on the Taiwan question.

During a hearing in the Diet, Japan's legislature, on Friday, Takaichi claimed that a Taiwan emergency involving the use of military vessels and military force from the Chinese mainland could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. According to legislation, Japan's Self-Defense Forces could exercise the right of collective self-defense if such a situation is recognized as "survival-threatening."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday said that China deplores and opposes that and has made serious démarches and protests to Japan.  

In Beijing's latest response on Takaichi's wrongful remarks, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, stated on Wednesday that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of it. The egregious remarks on Taiwan gravely violate the one-China principle and brazenly interfere in China's internal affairs. "We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged solemn representations and strong protests with the Japanese side," Chen said.

According to Chen, Japan bears historical guilt toward the Chinese people on the Taiwan question and committed countless heinous crimes during its 50-year colonial rule and enslavement of the island of Taiwan. Eighty years ago, we defeated the Japanese invaders, restored Taiwan and ended Japan's occupation and plunder of the island. Eighty years later, whoever attempts to challenge China's core interests or obstruct China's reunification will never be tolerated or allowed by the Chinese government, people, and military, Chen said.

The Takaichi administration, shortly after taking office, has already faced two strong protests from China, both concerning Taiwan. Such a rare start for any Japanese prime minister is making a significant blow to China-Japan relations, Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Takaichi's claims have broken with the cautious stance maintained by previous Japanese prime ministers and are severely undermining mutual political trust between the two countries, Xiang said. He warned that by sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces, these moves not only escalate tensions across the Taiwan Straits but may also deteriorate the cooperative atmosphere in economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges, further straining the already fragile bilateral relationship between China and Japan.

Xiang emphasized that China's swift and firm response is both necessary and justified, as it has not only curbed the arrogance of "Taiwan independence" forces and their collusion with external forces, but also clearly communicated China's red line to the international community. This approach also serves to fortify the bottom line for maintaining regional stability, the expert noted.

Apart from in the Chinese mainland, more senior figures in Japan and on the island of Taiwan have voiced opposition against Tokyo's reckless and rash provocations on the Taiwan question.

Ichiro Ozawa, a lawmaker of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, called Takaichi "profoundly reckless" in a post on X on Wednesday. "She has shown alarming frivolity in addressing national security," Ozawa wrote.

Professor Yamaguchi Jiro posted on X on Tuesday on Takaichi's wrongful remarks on Taiwan, stating that "this exposes the peace-addled ignorance of right-wing, hawkish politicians who know nothing of the reality of war."

Taiwan regional internet celebrity "Kuan Chang" (Chen Chih-han) on Tuesday also lashed out at Takaichi, saying that "The affairs of Chinese people are none of Japan's business! Shut up!" He reminded Taiwan compatriots not to forget the island's history when Japan massacred Taiwan residents.

The mounting criticism against Tokyo's provocations on Taiwan proves that "Taiwan independence" is facing growing scrutiny, questioning and condemnation in the international community, Liu Jiangyong, vice dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.