Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning posts a video on social media platform X on November 17, 2025, about the 1995 Murayama Statement by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. Photo: Screenshot from the spokesperson's account

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning posted a video on social media platform X on Monday about the 1995 Murayama Statement by former Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama, amid widespread criticism following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on the Taiwan Straits.

In the accompanying caption, Mao stated, it is "high time to recall the 1995 Murayama Statement, in which then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama admitted and atoned for Japanese aggression during WWII and offered apology to the victim countries."

Murayama passed away at the age of 101 on October 17, Kyodo News reported. Born on March 3, 1924, in Oita Prefecture, Murayama became chairman of the Japan Socialist Party in 1993 and served as prime minister from June 1994 through January 1996.

On August 15, 1995, Murayama issued a cabinet-endorsed statement in his name to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, which declared that "Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war... and, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations," Xinhua News Agency reported.

The Murayama Statement also expressed "deep remorse" and offered a "heartfelt apology," using unprecedented language to apologize for Japan's wartime actions, which was widely recognized by the international community, Xinhua reported.

However, Japanese media recently released a video from the year before Murayama's statement, showing current Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who was then a lawmaker, questioning the then prime minister Tomiichi Murayama, on why, in his capacity as prime minister, he admitted on behalf of Japan that the war of aggression back then was wrong.

She pressed him sharply, saying, "I don't want you apologizing as our representative without authorization." 

Murayama argued with Takaichi that "I have not said that it was a mistake regarding all those who served in the military and worked sacrificing their lives for the country. However, while history may evaluate many issues, I think we must say that, looking back now, the actions of Japan's military clique and such leaders at that time probably involved major mistakes."

Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Embassy and consulates in Japan have been actively voicing their position on international social media platforms like X, expressing China's stance firmly and publishing posters in Japanese and English, which has sparked a strong reaction in Japanese public opinion.

Global Times