Tokyo still ‘dodging the issue’ a year on from Takaichi row, Beijing says

South China Morning Post · Cao Jiaxuan · 2026-11-06 11:22 UTC

Foreign ministry says Japan is entirely to blame for poor relations following the row over the prime minister’s comments on Taiwan.

Beijing has said responsibility for the “serious difficulties in China-Japan relations lay entirely with Tokyo” one year on from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s controversial comments about Taiwan.

Takaichi is planning to visit China this month for the Apec summit, but on Friday foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun accused the Japanese authorities of continuing to evade the issue and showing no willingness to correct her remarks.

“A year ago, the Japanese leader made erroneous remarks on Taiwan, blatantly sending a wrong signal of attempting to militarily intervene in the Taiwan question, challenging China’s national sovereignty and shaking the political foundation of China-Japan relations,” Guo said.

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