On November 27, Gao Jia Kun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presided over a regular press conference.

A reporter asked: According to reports, the leader of the opposition party in Japan commented on the remarks made by Takahashi Sanae during the debate with the leaders of the opposition parties, stating that Takahashi no longer mentioned specific cases, which actually amounted to retracting her previous statements. Does China agree with this view?

Gao Jia Kun reiterated that the erroneous remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Sanae seriously violated the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, undermined the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations, and caused strong public outrage among the Chinese people.

Gao Jia Kun emphasized that "no longer mentioning" and "retracting erroneous remarks" are two different things with completely different natures. The Japanese side's attempt to downplay, evade, and cover up the serious erroneous remarks of Prime Minister Takahashi through "no longer mentioning" is like stealing one's own ears, talking to oneself. China will not accept it.

On the 7th of this month, Takahashi Sanae stated during her testimony in the Japanese Diet that "the situation involving Taiwan" could constitute a "life-or-death crisis" under which Japan could exercise collective self-defense rights. This statement immediately triggered strong criticism from various quarters.

According to TBS Television, during her testimony in the Diet on the 26th, Takahashi Sanae did not mention specific cases regarding the issue of Taiwan again. After the testimony, the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, former Prime Minister Hashimoto Yoshihiko, who had been opposing Takahashi Sanae, told reporters: "This indicates that Takahashi has essentially retracted her previous comments on the Taiwan issue."

According to reports, during the debate with Hashimoto Yoshihikon on the 26th, Takahashi Sanae stated that the Japanese government maintains the position that it cannot recognize the legal status of Taiwan. When Hashimoto Yoshihiko continued to ask about the so-called "Taiwan issue," Takahashi Sanae only said, "(At that time), the government will make a judgment based on all available information," avoiding giving a more specific response.

Takahashi Sanae also stated in her testimony that Japan had renounced all rights related to Taiwan in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which took effect in 1952, and that currently, Japan and Taiwan (region) maintain a "non-governmental, functional relationship."

Hashimoto Yoshihiko also questioned Takahashi Sanae during the testimony: "Dealing with the Taiwan issue should have followed a strategy of ambiguity and maintained consistency with other countries, but Japan alone taking a stance would only harm national interests. Is this considered as unilateral decision-making? For the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations caused by this, what responsibility do you think you should bear?" To this, Takahashi Sanae did not give a direct response.

However, it is quite ironic that it was Hashimoto Yoshihiko himself who, during his tenure as Prime Minister in 2012, pushed forward the so-called "nationalization of the Diaoyu Islands," which once brought Sino-Japanese relations to a low point. Hashimoto Yoshihiko himself also said: "In fact, I myself am also an individual who once worsened Sino-Japanese relations... But I believe that this situation is different now. What has happened recently obviously began with the unilateral words and deeds of the Prime Minister."

Regarding Takahashi Sanae's responses during the testimony, Hashimoto Yoshihiko stated at a press conference after the meeting: "Takahashi Sanae did not mention specific cases when answering, which indicates that she has essentially retracted her previous comments on the Taiwan issue."

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7577311672507859483/

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