China says it will not allow Japanese ‘militarism to stage a comeback’

“China will never allow right-wing forces in Japan to turn back the wheel of history, nor permit external forces to meddle in China's Taiwan region or allow Japanese militarism to stage a comeback,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his first strategic dialogue with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin on Saturday in Dushanbe.

Wang added that Beijing “will work with all parties to uphold the international consensus on the one-China principle and jointly safeguard the hard-won outcomes of the victory of World War II.”

He called on Tokyo to “deeply reflect on the war crimes committed by militarism” during World War II, “abide by the rules and act with restraint and prudence on Taiwan and historical issues.”

Wang said: “It is shocking for a sitting Japanese leader to openly send a wrong signal of attempting to intervene militarily in the Taiwan question, saying what should not be said and crossing a red line that must not be touched.”

“China must resolutely hit back – not only to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also to defend the hard-won post-war achievements secured with blood and sacrifice, and to uphold international justice and human conscience,” he added.

His remarks came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said any Chinese attack on Taiwan could amount to a “survival-threatening situation” for Tokyo under its security legislation, potentially enabling it to “exercise the right of collective self-defense.”

China sharply criticized the comments, which were made days after Takaichi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum earlier this month.

Following Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists reportedly canceled trips to Japan, while Tokyo said Beijing had imposed a ban on seafood imports.

Beijing also postponed a trilateral meeting of culture ministers with Japan and South Korea, a decision that drew criticism from Tokyo.