Guo Jiakun

Japan's actions once again expose the fact that certain individuals in the country are accustomed to confusing black with white, distorting the fact, refusing to correct their mistakes even when fully aware of them, and attempting to play innocent and seek sympathy on the international stage, said Chinese FM spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wed, in response to media reports that Japan's National Security Advisor Keiichi Ichikawa recently held consultations with countries including the UK, France, Germany and Canada when he  elaborated on Japan's position regarding Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan-related remarks, refuted China's statements, and claimed that Takaichi's remarks did not alter Japan's consistent stance on Taiwan.

As media reported that some voices in Japan claimed that Japan is a "peace-loving" nation, and that China's accusations against Japan are "inconsistent with facts," Guo pointed out that Japan's right-wing forces are often concoct "false narratives." They depict the aggression war waged against Asian neighbors as a "liberation of Asia"; trivialize the horrific Nanjing Massacre by calling it the "Nanjing Incident"; glorify the notorious Unit 731 as an "institution engaged in medical research"; and distort the forced recruitment of laborers and the issue of "comfort women" as "voluntary acts". After the war, Japan has fabricated a victimhood narrative, yet evades mentioning that its militarism was the root cause of the scourge of war. It insists on the so-called "exclusive defense" and "passive defense" policy, but has continuously relaxed restrictions on the exercise of collective self-defense rights, repeatedly eased weapons export controls, and even sought to revise the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles", according to Guo.

The erroneous remarks made by Takaichi on Taiwan have not only aroused strong indignation among the Chinese people, but also drawn opposition and criticism from within Japan and many other countries. What Japan should do is earnestly listen to these voices and conduct in-depth reflection, rather than engaging in sophistry and lobbying around the world and inviting embarrassment upon itself. We urge certain individuals in Japan to stop manipulating false narratives, face up to history, reflect on and correct their mistakes, retract their fallacious remarks, honor their commitments, and provide a responsible explanation to China and the international community, Guo stated.

Global Times