Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that Japan’s public issuance of “wrong signals” regarding Taiwan is shocking, marking the latest statement in the growing tension between Beijing and Tokyo for more than two weeks.
Wang — the highest-ranking Chinese official to comment publicly on the matter — stated that Japan has crossed a red line that must not be touched. He accused Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of seeking military involvement concerning Taiwan, referring to her November 7 remarks in which she suggested that any Chinese attack on democratically governed Taiwan could prompt a military response from Tokyo.
The minister emphasized that China is obligated to respond firmly to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to defend the “hard-won achievements secured after the war through blood and sacrifice.” He warned that if Tokyo continues down this path, nations and peoples would have the right to reconsider “Japan’s historical crimes” and firmly oppose any revival of Japanese militarism.
China raised the issue two days ago with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reaffirming its determination to defend itself. Meanwhile, Japan’s Foreign Ministry rejected China’s accusations on Saturday, describing them as “completely unacceptable” and insisting that Tokyo’s commitment to peace remains unchanged.
For its part, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned China’s message to the United Nations, calling it “rude and unreasonable,” adding that it maliciously distorts historical facts and violates the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force in international relations.
According to the UN Comtrade database, China is Japan’s second-largest export market after the United States, having purchased nearly $125 billion worth of Japanese goods in 2024, particularly industrial equipment, semiconductors, and automobiles.
