Beijing condemns Japanese PM’s Taiwan remarks as "threat to security"

The permanent representatives of China and Japan to the United Nations have submitted formal letters to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, presenting their respective positions on the Taiwan issue.

According to Caliber.Az, China’s UN envoy, Fu Cong, stated in his letter that recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi constitute an infringement on China’s security and the international order. Beijing described Takaichi’s comments as a direct threat of armed intervention and warned that China would exercise its right to self-defence if necessary.

Japan’s permanent representative to the UN also sent a letter to Secretary-General Guterres outlining Japan’s stance. Minoru Kihara, Secretary General of the Japanese government, explained: “Our government’s policy remains unchanged. We aim to reduce tensions in relations with China and strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation through joint efforts.” He added that Tokyo would continue to monitor the situation and “take appropriate measures.”

Fu Cong criticised Prime Minister Takaichi for making provocative statements about Taiwan during parliamentary debates. According to Fu, this marks the first time since Japan’s defeat in 1945 that a Japanese leader has openly and officially stated that “the crisis in Taiwan is a crisis for Japan,” linking it to Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defence.

Furthermore, he noted, it is the first time Japan has indicated an intention to intervene militarily in the Taiwan issue, issuing a direct military threat to China and openly challenging China’s core interests.

The Chinese ambassador described these statements as erroneous, extremely dangerous, and highly negative in their impact. He said that despite repeated protests from China, Japan has not responded appropriately or retracted these remarks. China expressed deep dissatisfaction and strong opposition to Japan’s actions.

Fu Cong emphasised that Takaichi’s statements violate international law and fundamental principles of international relations, undermine the post-war international order, and constitute an open provocation to over 1.4 billion Chinese citizens, as well as to the peoples of Asian countries who suffered from Japanese aggression in the past. He reiterated that Taiwan is sacred Chinese territory and that the resolution of the Taiwan issue is an internal matter in which external interference is unacceptable.

The Chinese ambassador warned that any Japanese military intervention in the Taiwan Strait would be considered an act of aggression, and China would resolutely exercise its right to self-defence under the UN Charter and international law to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Fu also urged Japan, as a country defeated in World War II, to reflect on its historical actions, uphold its political commitments regarding the Taiwan issue, cease provocations, and refrain from making inappropriate statements.

The letter from China will be distributed to all UN member states as an official document of the UN General Assembly.

By Tamilla Hasanova