Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

Recently, Japan's political circles, academia, civic organizations, and citizens' groups have strongly criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks and actions related to Taiwan, and the Japanese government's repeated release of dangerous signals of military buildup and expansion. They have called on the Japanese government to retract Takaichi's erroneous statements. Asked to comment on this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that "We have taken note of the relevant situation. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan on November 7, along with a series of recent moves by the Japanese side toward re-militarization, have triggered vigilance and opposition from neighboring countries. 

An increasing number of Japanese politicians and members of the public have spoken out to say "No." Some senior lawmakers have pointed out that "throughout history, there are countless examples in which politicians incited external crises, stirring public emotions that spiraled out of control and evolved into real "existential crisis situations," with the result that the people paid an enormous price, said Guo. 

Recently, Diet members raised questions to Prime Minister Takaichi, calling for a firm stance that children must never be sent to the battlefield, and must never be drawn into war. Takakage Fujita, secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, said that Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks are once again steering Japan onto a dangerous path of preemptive use of force, and that Japan must not allow any political force to push the country back into the abyss of war. Some Japanese media commentators have also warned that Takaichi's approach risks leading Japan back onto a fascist path reminiscent of the militarist era, said the spokesperson. 

Eighty years ago, the Japanese people were handed a hollow promise that the war could be won," yet were left to bear the bitter cost of total defeat. History and reality have proven that a return to militarism is a misguided path and one that is doomed to fail, said Guo.

Making a clean break with militarism and genuinely pursuing a path of peaceful development is an important prerequisite for Japan to earn the trust and understanding of the international community - especially its Asian neighbors - and is also the correct choice that serves the fundamental interests of the Japanese people, Guo said.

Global Times