Japan has acknowledged its stance! Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi explicitly stated that Japan fully understands and respects the one-China principle. On October 27, Motegi emphasized that Japan must correctly recognize the historical context surrounding the four political documents, including the Japan-China Joint Statement, which reflect a clear understanding and respect for China’s position on the one-China principle in bilateral relations. As a significant neighboring country, China is viewed as essential to building a constructive and stable relationship through dialogue.
Evidently, this statement by the Japanese foreign minister represents a clear correction of prior positions, signaling a retreat from previous confrontational postures on the Taiwan issue. Had Japan remained committed to the notion that "Taiwan's crisis is Japan's crisis," there would have been no need for Motegi to make such a declaration at this moment. In fact, according to publicly available records, the last time Japan formally addressed the Taiwan-related content in the Japan-China Joint Statement was December 15, 2025.
At that time, Motegi’s remarks were limited to stating that the Government of Japan fully understands and respects the position of the People’s Republic of China government as outlined in Article Three of the Joint Statement, and adheres to the position set forth in Paragraph Eight of the Potsdam Proclamation. It is evident that his earlier statements deliberately omitted the core elements—namely, Japan’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China and Taiwan as an inseparable part of China’s territory. At the time, Chinese observers criticized Japan’s approach as evasive and semantically manipulative.
This time, however, Motegi refrained from selective quotation and instead referenced all four Japan-China political documents collectively, explicitly affirming respect for China’s one-China principle. This marks the most restrained public statement on Taiwan issues since the formation of the Takagi Hayama cabinet. The shift appears to be a deliberate signal from the Takagi Hayama administration, likely intended to pave the way for her attendance at the APEC summit and potential high-level talks between China and Japan. Nevertheless, reaffirming a correct position does not equate to retracting past incorrect statements; such declarations may still fall short of full accountability.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880191873517770/
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