JAKARTA - The Chinese Foreign Ministry still asked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to withdraw her remarks six months ago that triggered tensions between China and Japan.
"If Japan really hopes to improve relations with China, they must abide by the four political documents between the two countries and the commitments they have made to China, retract the false statements and protect the political foundation for bilateral relations with concrete actions," said Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing, Thursday, May 7, reported by ANTARA.
China-Japan relations have been tense since November 7, 2025 when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said China's use of military force against Taiwan, which "could create a situation that threatens Japan's survival" still causes tension in China-Japan relations.
The statement is understood by the Japanese government to allow the Self-Defense Forces to act in support of Taiwan if China imposes a maritime blockade on Taiwan or other forms of pressure.
"The root cause of the serious difficulties in bilateral relations lies in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's false statement on Taiwan. The responsibility lies entirely with Japan," Lin Jian added.
Lin Jian also said that sincere dialogue is only possible if there is respect and consensus is respected.
"We urge the Japanese authorities to face the root of the problem, introspect, correct their mistakes, and create the necessary conditions for normal relations between China and Japan," said Lin Jian.
Beijing also assessed that Japan's right-wing groups were pushing neo-militarism in Japan, one of which was by revising Japan's arms export rules that removed rules that restricted the export of Japanese defense equipment to five non-combat categories, namely rescue, transportation, warning, surveillance, and mine clearance.
"We know that there are demonstrations in Japan that voice their opposition to the Takaichi government's plan to revise the Constitution. This shows the Japanese right-wing forces' push to change the Constitution and accelerate remilitarization against the public," said Lin Jian.
The revision of the Japanese constitution, according to Lin Jian, will have an impact on the post-war international order and where Japan is headed, and is always closely monitored by the international community and its neighboring countries in Asia.
"Preventing the resurgence of militarism is Japan's obligation, as well as the strong will of the international community, including China," Lin Jian said.
Tensions over PM Takaichi's statement led China to take a number of retaliatory actions, including resuming imports of Japanese seafood products, cutting off high-level government meetings, and advising its citizens not to travel and study in Japan.
In addition, two Chinese Navy J-15 fighter jets alternately locked their radars onto Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) F-15 aircraft over the open sea southeast of Okinawa on December 6, 2025. The action also triggered protests from Japan.
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