Half a Year After ''Taiwan Contingency'' Remarks, Beijing Again Urges Japan to ''Retract Statement''
China''s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again demanded that Japan retract Prime Minister Takaichi''s ''Taiwan contingency'' remarks made last November. Since the statement, Sino-Japanese relations have deteriorated, and dialogue channels have been obstructed.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 11:20
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Central News Agency (CNA), Shanghai, May 8 - It has been six months since Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi''s ''Taiwan contingency'' remarks in the Diet on November 7 of last year. Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again urged the Japanese side to retract the ''erroneous statement.'' Japanese media indicates that Japan-China relations continue to deteriorate, with communication channels obstructed.
On November 7 last year, during a questioning session at the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Takaichi stated that a ''Taiwan contingency could constitute a situation that threatens Japan''s survival.'' This triggered criticism from China for interfering in its internal affairs, followed by a series of countermeasures, including advising Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan and strengthening export controls on dual-use items such as rare earths to Japan.
At the Chinese Foreign Ministry''s regular press conference on May 7, a reporter from TV Tokyo asked for China''s comment on the fact that half a year has passed since Takaichi''s statement.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China has repeatedly clarified its solemn position on the matter. ''The current serious difficulties facing China-Japan relations stem from the erroneous Taiwan-related remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and the responsibility lies entirely with the Japanese side.'' He added that genuine exchange and dialogue should be based on respecting the other party and abiding by consensus.
Lin Jian said, ''If the Japanese side genuinely wants to improve China-Japan relations, it should abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments, retract the erroneous remarks, and take practical actions to safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations. We urge the Japanese ruling authorities to face up to the root of the problem, reflect and correct their mistakes, and create the necessary conditions for normal exchanges between China and Japan.''
Nikkei Asia reported on May 8 that in the past six months, parliamentary diplomacy, which used to be effective when China-Japan relations cooled, has been scarce, exposing the problem of blocked communication channels.
For example, Yasunori Nishimura, the election strategy chief of Japan''s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, visited Beijing early this month but had no meetings scheduled with officials from the Communist Party of China or the Chinese government. The report pointed out that it is rare for a ruling party official on an overseas visit not to meet with local dignitaries. Contact between the cross-party Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League and China is currently limited to informal occasions.
Kyodo News reported on May 7 that Takaichi is pushing to revise three security-related documents to strengthen defense capabilities, which is bound to lead to a tougher stance from China. Within the Japanese government, there is a pessimistic view about holding a leadership summit within the year to break the deadlock.
The report noted that, bolstered by high cabinet approval ratings, Takaichi has rejected China''s demand to retract the Taiwan-related remarks. Takaichi stated on the 1st of this month: ''Japan is always open to dialogue and is willing to respond strategically.'' (Editor: Chu Chien-ling) 1150508
On November 7 last year, during a questioning session at the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Takaichi stated that a ''Taiwan contingency could constitute a situation that threatens Japan''s survival.'' This triggered criticism from China for interfering in its internal affairs, followed by a series of countermeasures, including advising Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan and strengthening export controls on dual-use items such as rare earths to Japan.
At the Chinese Foreign Ministry''s regular press conference on May 7, a reporter from TV Tokyo asked for China''s comment on the fact that half a year has passed since Takaichi''s statement.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China has repeatedly clarified its solemn position on the matter. ''The current serious difficulties facing China-Japan relations stem from the erroneous Taiwan-related remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and the responsibility lies entirely with the Japanese side.'' He added that genuine exchange and dialogue should be based on respecting the other party and abiding by consensus.
Lin Jian said, ''If the Japanese side genuinely wants to improve China-Japan relations, it should abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments, retract the erroneous remarks, and take practical actions to safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations. We urge the Japanese ruling authorities to face up to the root of the problem, reflect and correct their mistakes, and create the necessary conditions for normal exchanges between China and Japan.''
Nikkei Asia reported on May 8 that in the past six months, parliamentary diplomacy, which used to be effective when China-Japan relations cooled, has been scarce, exposing the problem of blocked communication channels.
For example, Yasunori Nishimura, the election strategy chief of Japan''s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, visited Beijing early this month but had no meetings scheduled with officials from the Communist Party of China or the Chinese government. The report pointed out that it is rare for a ruling party official on an overseas visit not to meet with local dignitaries. Contact between the cross-party Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League and China is currently limited to informal occasions.
Kyodo News reported on May 7 that Takaichi is pushing to revise three security-related documents to strengthen defense capabilities, which is bound to lead to a tougher stance from China. Within the Japanese government, there is a pessimistic view about holding a leadership summit within the year to break the deadlock.
The report noted that, bolstered by high cabinet approval ratings, Takaichi has rejected China''s demand to retract the Taiwan-related remarks. Takaichi stated on the 1st of this month: ''Japan is always open to dialogue and is willing to respond strategically.'' (Editor: Chu Chien-ling) 1150508