0
Liu Jinsong, director-general for Asian affairs at China’s Foreign Ministry, meets with Masaki Kanai, director-general for Asian and Oceanian Affairs at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Beijing on November 18 to discuss Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. / Xinhua News Agency

China lodged a renewed protest with Japan on November 18, demanding that Tokyo retract Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments on Taiwan, which Beijing claims amount to interference in its internal affairs.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press briefing that Liu Jinsong, director-general for Asian affairs, met earlier in the day in Beijing with Masaki Kanai, his counterpart at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Mao, Liu used the meeting to deliver a “stern diplomatic representation,” urging Japan to withdraw what Beijing sees as Takaichi’s “wrong remarks” concerning China.

Liu argued that Takaichi’s comments “severely violate international law and the basic norms of international relations,” undermine the postwar international order, and contradict the “one-China principle” as well as the four key political documents that underpin China–Japan ties. He added that the statements “damage the political foundation of bilateral relations” and have an “extremely malignant nature,” provoking strong public outrage in China.

Mao reiterated that Beijing demands Tokyo retract the remarks and stop stirring up disputes on China-related issues. She urged Japan to “recognize and correct its mistakes through concrete actions” in order to safeguard the political basis of China–Japan relations.