People's Daily ‘Zhong Sheng’ commentary: Absolutely won’t tolerate Sanae Takaichi's cross-line provocation on Taiwan question
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raises her hand to answer a question during a session of the House of Councillors Budget Committee at the National Diet in Tokyo, Japan on November 12, 2025. Photo: VCG
Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi blatantly claimed at the Diet that a "Taiwan emergency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, implying the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Straits. This is a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, a betrayal of the one-China principle, and a flagrant challenge to the post-World War II international order.
Insightful individuals in both China and Japan have pointed out that Takaichi's statement marks the first time since Japan's defeat in 1945 that a Japanese leader has formally claimed that "a Taiwan contingency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and link this to the exercise of right to collective self-defense, the first time a Japanese leader has expressed ambitions to attempt armed intervention on the Taiwan question, and the first time a Japanese leader has issued a military threat against China. Its intentions are extremely sinister, its nature extremely egregious, and its consequences extremely serious. The Chinese government and the Chinese people are strongly indignant about this and resolutely oppose it.
Since modern times, Japanese militarism has engaged in rampant aggression and expansion abroad, committing countless crimes against China. In 1895, Japan forcibly annexed Taiwan through the Treaty of Shimonoseki, implementing a 50-year colonial rule, ruthlessly suppressing Taiwan compatriots' resistance, plundering massive resources, and causing severe damages to Taiwan's economy, culture, and livelihoods.
In 1945, after 14 years of arduous and bloody struggle, the Chinese people achieved a great victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Japan signed the instrument of surrender, and formally accepted international legal documents that stipulated Taiwan's restoration to the motherland such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. China recovered Taiwan and resumed its sovereignty over the island. This was a glorious chapter in the Chinese nation's defense of national unity and an important part of the post-World War II international order.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration. The international community has long reached a broad consensus on adhering to the one-China principle. As a defeated nation, Japan should deeply reflect on its historical crimes, honor the commitments it made to China and the international community, and take concrete actions to fully respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, Takaichi has attempted to link China's Taiwan region to Japan's so-called "security interests," in an attempt to provide a pretext for Japanese military intervention in the Taiwan question, exposing Japan's sinister plot and ambition for military involvement in the Taiwan Straits.
This not only sends a gravely wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces but also severely violates the core content of the one-China principle in the China-Japan Joint Statement, as well as the fourth political document between China and Japan, which affirmed their commitment that the two sides are cooperative partners and do not pose a threat to each other. It has seriously undermined the political foundation of China-Japan relations.
Takaichi's fallacies about Taiwan are by no means isolated political nonsense; behind them lies the obsession and arrogance of Japan's right-wing forces in breaking through the constraints of the pacifist constitution and seeking the status of a "military power."
In recent years, Japan has been rapidly accelerating its militarization, continuously undercutting its pacifist constitution, completely abandoning the principle of "exclusively defensive defense," and attempting to abandon the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles." Against this backdrop, Takaichi's linking of "Taiwan emergency" with collective self-defense is a pretext for Japan's military expansion, carrying dangerous signs of a resurgence of militarism. From her frequent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine to her denial of the Nanjing Massacre, and her persistent promotion of the "China Threat" theory, Takaichi's every step follows in the old footsteps of historical crimes, seeking to reverse the verdict on Japan's history aggression and revive militarism.
Throughout history, Japanese militarism has frequently used the so-called ""survival-threatening situation" as a pretext for launching foreign aggression, including brazenly creating the September 18 Incident under the pretext of "exercising the right of self-defense" and provoking the war of aggression against China. Today, by bringing up similar rhetoric, is Japan attempting to repeat its historical mistakes?
The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the reunification of China are unstoppable historical trends. The Chinese government and people are resolute in safeguarding the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests, and anyone who dares to touch this red line will not be tolerated by the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people or the entire Chinese nation!
We once again solemnly warn the Japanese side that if it should dare to meddle in the cross-Straits situation, it would be an act of aggression and definitely meet a firm response from China. The Japanese side must immediately correct its provocative and cross-line words and deeds, retract its egregious statements, and cease its dangerous and reckless actions in the military and security fields; otherwise, it will bear full responsibility for the consequences.
Eighty years ago, the Chinese people defeated Japanese militarist aggression. Today, the Chinese nation has the firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capability to defeat any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist schemes and external interference. Those who play with fire will end up burning themselves badly. Any force attempting to obstruct China's reunification will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; it will face resolute countermeasures and complete failure.
The article was originally published on page 3 of the People's Daily on November 14, 2025.
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