China on Wednesday urged Japan to "reflect" on its actions and "correct its mistakes," and show its sincerity in protecting the foundation of bilateral ties, after Sanae Takaichi's reelection as Japan's prime minister.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement comes as China has reiterated its demand that Takaichi retract her parliamentary comments in November suggesting that Japan's defense forces could act in the event of an attack on Taiwan, a self-ruled island China claims and has not ruled out taking by force.
Takaichi was reelected in parliament after her ruling party secured a historic landslide victory in the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election.
The Global Times, a tabloid affiliated with the ruling Communist Party, reported that experts see Takaichi as facing multiple challenges, including her pursuit of constitutional revision, China policy and diplomatic strategy, which "will not only shape Japan's own development prospects but also raise concerns among regional countries and the international community."
Meanwhile, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the island looks forward to working with Japan to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The ministry described Takaichi as one who has long demonstrated support for Taiwan through concrete actions and expressed hope to "continue deepening a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership."
In a post on X in Japanese, President Lai Ching-te congratulated Takaichi for her reelection, thanking her for "repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at key international forums as well as for expressing support for Taiwan."
© KYODO
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sakurasuki
China need to know that Japan will always elect the same party over and over again. So nothing will change for Japan, anytime soon or even for decades.
Will_Rendle
sakurasukiToday 07:00 am JST
At least some LDP prime ministers have been more pragmatic and moderate, and knew when to keep their mouths shut.
Monty
China on Wednesday urged Japan to "reflect" on its actions and "correct its mistakes,"
What a nonsense (again) from China!
China should first reflect on its own actions and correct its own mistakes before it tells its peaceful neighbours what to do!
WiseOneIn Kansai
Is China still whinging??
How embarrassing that China can't act like an adult and have dialogue with Japan. Yes, continue to refuse to talk and act like a little child because you can't get your way!
Hmmm, over 5000 years of history destroyed by the CCP!
mii
Thanks china for give Takaichi more time to correct the wrongs.
mii
This is the evidence that Takaichi deliberately destroyed China Japan relationship by Taiwan official lie.
Will_Rendle
WiseOneIn KansaiToday 07:19 am JST
There's that copy&paste "spoilt child" thing again. Well, I think we'd see a lot of whining from Japan if Chinese leaders said anything about involving themselves in Japanese territorial disputes.
lincolnman
Go tell the CCP to "reflect" on why it's own school history books don't mention the thousands of its own citizens it killed in Tiananmen Square....or why those same students can't read a Winnie the Pooh book...
Will_Rendle
lincolnmanToday 07:50 am JST
All very bad, to be sure. What awful people. Does it make them factually wrong about the Japanese government, though? I think Takaichi is a useless, corrupt, lying hard-right militarist hack too. I think she triggered a totally pointless dispute with stupid, unguarded remarks that no one in the government told or advised her to make, presumably because she was more focused on what would sound good to morons in black loudspeaker trucks.
kurisupisu
A couple of nasty comments traded and millions of people are negatively affected?
Time for people to grow up…
lincolnman
I'm not particularly a Takaichi fan, but I don't think her comments about the impact a Taiwan invasion would have on Japan was ill-advised....it was quite factual, given Yonaguni is some 60 miles away.
In my view the CCP looked at this as an easy opportunity to put the new PM on the "backfoot" and maybe even to get her to retract the comment, further weakening her.
It did just the opposite - she didn't back down, and China's hissy fit made the Japanese public see her as "strong" standing up to a "bully", and rewarded her in the last election.
China's antics backfired - a clear self--own...