Beijing has intensified its pressure on Japan and demanded a clear declaration of its stance on the one-China principle as the two countries continued to clash over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan.
On Tuesday, the Japanese cabinet adopted a written response to a lawmaker’s question about Takaichi’s remarks, noting that they “do not change the government’s consistent position”.
Such statements were “far from enough”, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.
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“What China and the international community want clarified is: what exactly is Japan’s so-called consistent position? Does Japan still adhere to the one-China principle?” Mao said, noting that Japan should “honestly, accurately and fully clarify” its stance.
“Attempting to gloss over details or evade substance by referring only to abstract concepts in order to deceive others will not work,” she added.
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Takaichi on November 7 suggested that Japan could deploy its military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. It was the first time a sitting Japanese leader had spoken so explicitly about how the country might react to a Taiwan contingency.