Japan: "Actions Escalating Tensions in the Taiwan Strait"
China: "Opposing Hypocrisy That Reverses Right and Wrong"
After Japan expressed concerns over the large-scale Chinese military drills encircling Taiwan on December 29-30, China strongly objected, calling Japan's stance "highly hypocritical."
On December 31, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement under the name of Foreign Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura, characterizing the military exercises encircling Taiwan as "actions that escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait" and stating, "Japan has conveyed its concerns to the Chinese side."
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands ahead of the China-Japan summit held in Gyeongju on October 31. Photo by Yonhap News
The statement continued, "It is the consistent position of the Japanese government to hope that issues surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue," adding, "Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are important for the entire international community. We will continue to closely monitor relevant developments with strong interest."
Previously, from December 29 for two days, the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command mobilized large numbers of ground, naval, air, and rocket forces to conduct the largest-ever exercises, putting all-around pressure on Taiwan. This renewed encirclement drill, conducted for the first time in about eight months, was a military response to the United States' approval of a record $11.1 billion (approximately 16 trillion won) arms sale to Taiwan.
At a briefing that day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian noted that, in addition to Japan, countries such as Australia and the European Union (EU) had also expressed concerns. He said, "These countries and organizations turn a deaf ear and a blind eye when separatist forces in Taiwan attempt independence by force, and ignore foreign interference in China's internal affairs, yet they have much to say when China takes necessary and just actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
He emphasized, "This is a reversal of right and wrong and is highly hypocritical. China firmly opposes this and has lodged a stern diplomatic protest through official channels."
Regarding reports that a delegation of Japanese business leaders, originally scheduled to visit China at the end of January next year, postponed their trip due to difficulties arranging meetings with Chinese officials, spokesperson Lin stated that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks suggesting possible intervention in a Taiwan contingency are having a negative impact on bilateral exchanges.
Spokesperson Lin said, "We have taken note of these reports, and we have also noted that many people of insight in Japan are deeply concerned about the negative impact and serious consequences of Prime Minister Takaichi's erroneous comments on Taiwan." He urged, "We call on Japan's leaders to face the root cause of the current situation in China-Japan relations, reflect on their mistakes, retract Prime Minister Takaichi's erroneous remarks, and create the necessary conditions for normal exchanges between China and Japan."
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