November 20, 2025

It has been nearly two weeks since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made erroneous remarks concerning the Taiwan question, yet the negative impact and serious repercussions on China-Japan ties continue to unfold. Regrettably, we have not seen Japan's leadership demonstrate the political responsibility required to issue a clear correction of her statements. China has conveyed its position to Japan through multiple channels. On this question, there is no room for compromise or concession. If Japan stubbornly insists on going its own way, refuses to retract its erroneous remarks, or even engages in provocative behavior, China has full justification and necessity to take further and stronger countermeasures.

In recent days, the Takaichi administration has on the one hand repeatedly had senior officials, diplomats, and parliamentary members to offer so-called clarifications, while on the other hand continuing to avoid addressing the fundamental problem of the original statements. They clearly still harbor the illusion that this crisis can "soft land" without consequences. Such an illusion is not only naive but extremely dangerous. The facts have already proven that the Taiwan question is not Japan's "diplomatic stage," nor is it a geopolitical topic to be manipulated at will. China possesses rich options to ensure that any actions or words undermining China's core interests will come at their due cost.

Takaichi's erroneous remarks on the Taiwan question have not only sparked outrage and condemnation among the Chinese people but have also caused strong unease within Japan. Recently, multiple China-Japan exchange activities have been canceled. A travel agency in Tokyo reported an 80 percent loss in bookings for this year. The Japanese stock and bond markets have seen sharp declines. And Japanese economists warn that "China-Japan tensions could reduce Japan's GDP by 0.29 percent within a year." The tension triggered by Takaichi's remarks is clearly having a negative impact on various aspects of Japan's economic and social development - consequences that ordinary Japanese citizens surely do not wish to see.

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1348637.shtml