Beijing Rejects PM Takaichi's Taiwan Remarks Amid Heightened Tensions

Beijing has firmly rejected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent statements regarding Taiwan, labeling them as mere "prevarication" rather than a genuine retraction. The Chinese government emphasized its absolute non-acceptance of her continued refusal to withdraw comments made in early November, which significantly heightened tensions between the two Asian powers.

Takaichi's Apparent De-escalation Fails to Satisfy Beijing

Prime Minister Takaichi had, on Wednesday, appeared to attempt to de-escalate the weeks-long diplomatic row. During a parliamentary questioning session, she asserted that Tokyo's "fundamental position regarding Taiwan remains unchanged from that stated in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique, and there has been no change whatsoever to this position." However, she notably omitted any mention of the specific contents of the pivotal 1972 document, a move Beijing found insufficient.

Controversial Comments on PLA Attack and SDF Mobilization

Crucially, Takaichi also refrained from withdrawing her contentious November 7 remarks to parliament. In those earlier comments, she had suggested that a potential attack on Taiwan by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, a scenario that might justify the mobilization of Tokyo's military forces. This particular statement marked a significant shift, making Takaichi the first Japanese leader since World War II to publicly link a Taiwan contingency directly with the potential deployment of Japan's Self-Defence Forces. Her remarks swiftly sent bilateral relations with Beijing into a sharp decline.

China Demands Full Retraction, Not "Prevarication"

Following her supposed clarification, Beijing's reaction was swift and unequivocal. The Chinese foreign ministry insisted that Japan "correct its wrongdoing," signaling that only a full retraction would be deemed satisfactory. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reiterated Beijing's stance on Thursday, stating, "Prime Minister Takaichi is still prevaricating by claiming that the Japanese side’s position remains unchanged. China absolutely does not accept this." This underscores Beijing's insistence on a complete withdrawal of her earlier comments, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic impasse and the sensitive nature of the Taiwan issue in China-Japan relations.