China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi sharply criticized Japan's recent remarks on Taiwan, asserting that Japan bears responsibility for the deteriorating bilateral relationship.
"The future direction of relations between our two countries depends on Japan's choices," Wang said at a press conference on "China's Foreign Policy and External Relations" held in Beijing on Saturday.
Wang took issue with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement last year suggesting Japan could invoke its right to self-defense in the event of a Taiwan contingency.
"The exercise of self-defense is premised on one's own country being subject to armed attack, and the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair—on what grounds can Japan intervene?" Wang said.
"Does Japan have the right to exercise self-defense when a problem occurs in China's Taiwan?" he continued. "Recalling how Japanese militarism used the pretext of existential crises to carry out foreign aggression, the peoples of China and Asian countries cannot help but feel heightened vigilance and concern."
Wang also addressed Japan's historical recognition issues. "Last year marked the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan—a special year when Japan should have deeply reflected on its past wrongdoings, particularly its bad record of invading and colonizing Taiwan," he said.
"This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials, and history has given Japan another opportunity to reflect deeply," Wang added, warning against repeating past mistakes.
"I hope the Japanese people will keep their eyes open to ensure that no one acts presumptuously or repeats mistakes today," Wang said. "A developed China and its 1.4 billion people will absolutely not allow anyone to colonize or reverse the verdict on aggression."
Wang reaffirmed China's position on Taiwan. "Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times and has no possibility of becoming any kind of nation in the future," he said. "The DPP authorities' adherence to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist position is the root cause undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
"The clearer the international community's opposition to 'Taiwan independence' separatism and the firmer its adherence to the One China principle, the more peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will be guaranteed," Wang emphasized. "The Taiwan issue is China's internal affair and the core of China's core interests—this red line must not be crossed or stepped on."
"More and more countries are supporting China's great cause of reunification," Wang said. "The historical process of resolving the Taiwan issue and achieving the complete reunification of the motherland cannot be stopped—those who follow it will prosper, and those who resist it will perish."
