TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao (吳江浩) called on Japan to adhere to the “one China” principle in a recent interview with Yomiuri Shimbun.
“If Japan genuinely cares about peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it should completely sever ties with ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” Wu said. “This is a red line that cannot be crossed,” he said.
He noted that Japanese media outlets and the public considered Taiwan as a country and claimed the “Taiwan issue” was an unresolved domestic situation arising from the Chinese civil war. “The Chinese will not accept any attempt to separate Taiwan from China,” he said.
Wu’s comments come as Japan-Taiwan relations continue to deepen. Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru expressed concern about China’s large-scale military exercise around Taiwan in October. Shigeru reiterated the importance of peace and security in the Taiwan Strait and said Japan would monitor the situation and prepare to respond to any development.
Taiwan's foreign ministry has repeatedly pledged to cooperate with Japan and other like-minded partners to ensure regional peace and protect the rules-based international order.
Shigeru visited Taiwan in August before he was elected prime minister. He met with Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for talks on regional security and the need to strengthen bilateral ties.
Last month, a three-member Japanese parliament delegation arrived in Taiwan to hold bilateral talks with top government officials. Discussions focused on enhancing Taiwan-Japan parliamentary exchanges and regional developments.
DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) traveled to Japan from Dec. 7-10 to promote party diplomacy and exchange views with senior leaders and parliamentarians from Japan’s major political parties. His trip aimed to strengthen inter-party relations and advance Taiwan-Japan development.