Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on the Taiwan question have not only triggered strong indignation among the Chinese public but have also drawn increasing opposition and criticism from rational voices within Japan. 

Guo made the remarks when responding to media inquiries about Takaichi's previous comments that "There are concerns and issues between Japan and China. That's why we should work to reduce them, understand each other and cooperate more. Japan is open to dialogue at various levels," as well as Japan's repeated questioning over why China restricts Japanese seafood imports and over the so-called "radar illumination" issues, yet instead of reflecting on its own wrongdoing, Japan wants to shift blame to China. 

Guo added that he had noticed recent comments by a former editor-in-chief of Sekai magazine and former president of Iwanami Shoten, who stated that although Takaichi has repeatedly mentioned having "dialogues" with China, but that meaningful dialogue must be based on mutual respect, equality and efforts to understand the other side, and Takaichi's current attitude does not meet the conditions for genuine dialogue. Guo noted this view "captures the essence of the problem."

Global Times