China Presses Japan to Retract Taiwan Remarks, Tensions Remain High

China has reiterated its demand that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retract remarks linking a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan to Japan’s national security, keeping diplomatic tensions between China and Japan elevated.

Speaking at a regular press briefing on Tuesday, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said Japan must clearly correct what Beijing described as “erroneous statements” concerning Taiwan. China accused Japanese leaders of avoiding a direct response while continuing to send what it called “dangerous signals” on a matter involving China’s core interests.

The dispute stems from comments made by Sanae Takaichi in Japan’s parliament, where she said a conflict over Taiwan could pose an existential threat to Japan and might justify the use of force under Japan’s security laws.

• China urges Japan to retract Taiwan remarks as diplomatic tensions escalate
• Beijing warns Tokyo over ‘dangerous signals’ linking Taiwan conflict to Japan’s security
• Taiwan dispute adds strain to already fragile China–Japan relations

China reacted strongly, arguing that the remarks violated the political foundation of China-Japan relations established under the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communiqué.

Beijing considers Taiwan an inseparable part of its territory and strongly opposes any foreign statements or actions that appear to support Taiwan’s autonomy or Taiwan security. Chinese officials have repeatedly warned Japan against aligning its Taiwan policy too closely with the United States and its regional allies.

Japan, however, has defended the prime minister’s comments, stating they were hypothetical and reflected Japan’s legal framework for responding to threats to its survival. Tokyo has maintained that its official position on Taiwan remains unchanged and consistent with past agreements.

The disagreement has contributed to a broader deterioration in China-Japan ties. In recent weeks, both sides have exchanged sharp diplomatic language, while security incidents involving military aircraft and naval operations have added to regional tensions. The United States has reaffirmed its security commitment to Japan, further complicating the Asia-Pacific diplomatic environment.

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Despite diplomatic outreach efforts, Japan has so far shown no indication that it will retract the remarks. With both governments holding firm, the standoff over Taiwan-related statements continues to strain already fragile China-Japan relations.