The three bilingual graphic posts are based on the response given earlier Thursday by spokesperson Lin Jian during a regular press briefing regarding Takaichi's erroneous remarks. In the first graphic, the spokesperson questioned: "Is Japan going to repeat its past mistakes of militarism? Does Japan try to once again make an enemy of the Chinese and other Asian peoples? Does Japan attempt to subvert the post-WWII international order?"
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson consecutively posted English and Japanese graphic messages on social media platform X, warning Japan to "stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question" on November 13, 2025. Photo: Screenshot from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's X account.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson consecutively posted English and Japanese graphic messages on social media platform X, warning Japan to "stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question" on November 13, 2025. Photo: Screenshot from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's X account.
In the second graphic, the spokesperson warned Japan: "If Japan should dare to meddle in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression and would definitely meet a firm response from China."
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson consecutively posted English and Japanese graphic messages on social media platform X, warning Japan to "stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question" on November 13, 2025. Photo: Screenshot from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's X account.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson consecutively posted English and Japanese graphic messages on social media platform X, warning Japan to "stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question" on November 13, 2025. Photo: Screenshot from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's X account.
In the third graphic, the spokesperson warned: "Japan must stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it!"
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson consecutively posted English and Japanese graphic messages on social media platform X, warning Japan to "stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question" on November 13, 2025. Photo: Screenshot from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's X account.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson consecutively posted English and Japanese graphic messages on social media platform X, warning Japan to "stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question" on November 13, 2025. Photo: Screenshot from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's X account.
China Military Bugle, the press account of China's armed forces, on Thursday night posted two of the foreign ministry's graphics. One reads, "If Japan should dare to meddle in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression and would definitely meet a firm response from China." The other reads, "Japan must stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it!"
The repercussions of Takaichi's wrongful remarks on Taiwan question are resonating both abroad and at home.
Former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba criticized Takaichi's recent claims on Taiwan during a radio appearance on the Thursday, responding to her statement in the Diet, Ishiba noted that past administrations had consistently avoided making definitive declarations on how the government would respond to specific scenarios regarding the Taiwan question, Mainichi Shimbun reported.
Ishiba said Takaichi's comments were "very close to claiming that a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency," adding that previous governments had refrained from predetermining responses to individual cases, according to Mainichi Shimbun.
"The wrongful remarks grossly violate the one-China principle, the guiding principles set forth in the four China-Japan political documents, and the basic norms of international relations. That constitutes a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, a challenge to China's core interests, and infringement on China's sovereignty. China firmly opposes and will by no means tolerate such remarks. The Japanese side must correct its wrongdoing at once and retract the unjustified remarks. Otherwise, all the consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the Japanese side," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at the Thursday's regular press conference.
