Regarding the current China-Japan dispute, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, has once again sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Guterres, urging the Japanese side to fully and accurately answer to the international community what its so-called 'consistent position' on the Taiwan issue is. Fu Cong also requested Guterres to note that the Japanese side has already exceeded its policy of 'exclusively defense-oriented', and is undergoing remilitarization.
In response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks involving Taiwan at the beginning of last month, Fu Cong sent a letter to Guterres on November 21. Thereafter, Yamazaki Kazuyuki, Japan's Permanent Representative to the UN, sent a letter to Guterres on November 24, rebutting China's statement.
According to CCTV News, Fu Cong again sent a letter to Guterres on December 1 local time, providing a stern rebuttal to what he called the 'unreasonable sophistry' in Yamazaki Kazuyuki's November 24 letter, and clarifying the position of the Chinese government.
Fu Cong stated that, under instruction from the Chinese government, his letter articulated five points of position: First, the direct cause of the current serious differences between China and Japan is that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated during a parliamentary response on November 7 that a 'contingency in Taiwan may present a situation endangering [Japan's] survival,' implying that Japan would militarily intervene in the Taiwan issue. This blatantly challenges the outcomes of World War II and the postwar international order, seriously violating the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Second, including the recent letter by the Japanese representative, the Japanese side claims to adhere to a 'consistent position.' The Chinese side has repeatedly and publicly questioned the Japanese side: what exactly is this so-called 'consistent position'? To this day, the Japanese side has yet to give a direct reply to China. Can Japan fully and accurately answer to the international community what its 'consistent position' on the Taiwan issue is?
Third, the Japanese representative stated in the letter that Japan adheres to an exclusively defense-oriented, passive defense strategy, yet Sanae Takaichi linked Japan's 'situation endangering survival' to a 'Taiwan contingency,' implying the use of force against China. This clearly goes beyond Japan's so-called 'exclusively defense-oriented' and 'passive defense' approach.
Fourth, the Japanese representative further alluded to criticizing other countries' national defense development in the letter. Fu Cong urged Guterres to pay attention to the following facts: Since Japan's defeat, right-wing forces in Japan have never stopped attempts to whitewash its history of aggression; over the years, Japan has repeatedly and drastically adjusted its security policies, and its defense budget has 'increased for thirteen consecutive years'; Japan has modified the long-standing postwar 'three principles on arms exports' and started exporting lethal weapons; Japan also plans to revise the 'three non-nuclear principles,' paving the way for the introduction of nuclear weapons. Clearly, Japan has already exceeded the bounds of 'exclusively defense-oriented' policy and is undergoing remilitarization.
Fifth, the Japanese representative stated in the letter that efforts should be made to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. However, the biggest challenge at present is that Sanae Takaichi's words and actions have severely damaged mutual trust between China and Japan and undermined the political foundation of China-Japan relations. If the Japanese side truly wishes for stable development of China-Japan relations, it should clearly uphold the One China principle, abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and fulfill its political commitments, immediately retract erroneous remarks, and truly reflect its promise to China through concrete action. Otherwise, Japan will bear all the resulting consequences.
According to CCTV News, this letter will be circulated as an official United Nations General Assembly document to all member states.