"China urges Japan not to go further down the wrong path," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, commenting on recent developments concerning remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the Taiwan question.

Photo: Chinese foreign ministry

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a routine press conference in Beijing when asked to comment on the Annual Threat Assessment released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on Wednesday, which described Takaichi's remarks during a parliamentary session in November 2025 that a Taiwan contingency could constitute an "existential crisis situation" as a "significant policy shift." The Japanese government responded by rejecting the assessment and stating that its position remains unchanged.

Takaichi's fallacious remarks concerning Taiwan blatantly interfere in China's internal affairs, reveal the ambition to militarily intervene in the Taiwan question, and pose a threat of force against China, Lin said.

China has repeatedly made clear its solemn position. The report shows that the international community is becoming increasingly aware of the serious nature and impact of Takaichi's remarks and remains vigilant against Japan's dangerous provocations, Lin said.

He added that Japan cannot justify itself or win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community by merely claiming that its position remains unchanged.

China urges Japan to reflect on its actions, correct its mistakes, change course, honor the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments with concrete actions, and abide by the pacifist provisions of its Constitution.