【By Observer News, Qi Qian】
Not long ago, Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato, who had just taken office, made reckless remarks on the Taiwan issue, putting forward the rhetoric of "Taiwan's affairs are Japan's affairs" that even former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dared not express during his term, which was condemned by the international community.
On November 13, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official account on social media X released six posters in Japanese and English to warn Takahashi Hayato.
Initially, the Ministry used Japanese and English to ask three questions: "Is Japan going to repeat the mistakes of militarism? Is it going to be enemies with the Chinese people and Asian people again? Is it trying to subvert the post-war international order?"
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs X account (same below)
Subsequently, the Ministry stated its position: "If Japan dares to use force to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait, it will constitute an act of aggression, and China will surely strike back fiercely!"
"Japan must stop playing with fire on the Taiwan issue," the Ministry finally warned the Japanese side, "those who play with fire will burn themselves!"
On November 7, Takahashi Hayato said in a parliamentary session that if the mainland mobilizes warships and uses force against Taiwan, it may constitute a "crisis of existence," and the Self-Defense Forces could exercise collective self-defense rights. The comments triggered high vigilance from the outside world.
Takahashi Hayato's remarks caused a storm, leading to criticism within Japan. The Chinese side immediately raised serious negotiations and strong protests.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama posted on the next day (the 8th) that promoting these statements seems to aim at inciting crisis and advocating for military buildup. He emphasized that the Chinese side requires Japan to acknowledge that "Taiwan is part of China," and Japan also expressed respect for this position. Therefore, Japan should not interfere in China's internal affairs.
On the 13th, former Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru stated on a radio program that previous Japanese governments have always avoided making decisive statements such as "if a certain situation occurs, we will do so" on the Taiwan issue. He said that Takahashi's remarks "are not helpful in enhancing deterrence."
However, Takahashi Hayato has not repented and recently further claimed that the comments align with the Japanese government's view and has no intention of retracting or canceling them.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on November 13, Vice Minister Sun Weidong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Kanegasaki Norihiro to make serious representations regarding the erroneous words and deeds of Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato.
On the 13th, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, wrote on the X platform that Takahashi Hayato's erroneous statements seriously violate the One-China Principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and the basic norms of international relations. It grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, challenges China's core interests, and infringes upon China's sovereignty. China firmly opposes and does not tolerate this, and the Japanese side must immediately correct it, withdraw the malicious statements, otherwise all consequences must be borne by the Japanese side.
Lin Jian said that Japan once implemented colonial rule over Taiwan, committing heinous crimes. Historically, Japanese militarism repeatedly used the so-called "crisis of existence" as an excuse to launch foreign invasions, including the "September 18th Incident" under the pretext of "exercising self-defense rights," triggering the War of Aggression against China, bringing profound disasters to the people of Asia and the world. Today, Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato mentions the so-called "crisis of existence" again—what is the real intention? Does it want to repeat the mistakes of militarism? Is it going to be enemies with the Chinese people and the Asian people again? Is it attempting to subvert the post-war international order?
Lin Jian stated that Taiwan is China's Taiwan. How to resolve the Taiwan issue and achieve national reunification is the matter of the Chinese people, and no external forces can interfere. If Japan dares to use force to intervene in the situation across the Taiwan Strait, it will constitute an act of aggression, and China will surely strike back fiercely! We will resolutely exercise the right of self-defense granted by the UN Charter and international law, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"We warn the Japanese side, they must deeply reflect on historical crimes, immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs and provocative actions that cross the line, and not play with fire on the Taiwan issue. Those who play with fire will burn themselves!" Lin Jian emphasized.
This article is exclusive to Observer News. Without permission, it cannot be reprinted.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572483931832926739/
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