BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday urged Japanese authorities to take concrete actions to return to the purpose and mission of the four political documents between China and Japan.
Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular press briefing, as Tuesday marked the 54th anniversary of the issuance of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, which marked the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In the joint statement, Japan explicitly noted that it is "keenly conscious of" and "deeply reproaches itself" over its responsibility for war and that it "recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legal Government of China." The statement also notes that the Government of Japan "fully understands and respects" the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the PRC. The four political documents between China and Japan, including the joint statement, laid the political and legal foundation for China-Japan relations, and established the rules for properly settling major issues of principle, including history and Taiwan.
Guo pointed out that China-Japan relations are currently facing a severe situation, with the root cause being the grave undermining of the political foundation of bilateral ties.
Guo said the incumbent leader of Japan has not only refused to reflect on its history of aggression, but has also claimed that a contingency in Taiwan would constitute a "survival-threatening" situation for Japan. Such remarks constitute a blatant challenge to China's sovereignty and run counter to the aspiration demonstrated by the normalization of China-Japan relations and the political commitments Japan made to China, he said.
Japan has also kept peddling the so-called "external threat" narrative, using it as a pretext to accelerate remilitarization, Guo said, adding that this challenges the postwar international order and threatens regional peace and stability.
"On this day of historic significance, we once again urge those running the government of Japan to seriously reflect on and correct their wrongdoings, and take real actions to return to the purpose and mission of the four political documents," he noted. ■
