World growing more alert to implications of Japan's Taiwan remarks: spokesman

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday that the international community is becoming increasingly clear-eyed about the vile nature and implications of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan, and remains vigilant against Japan's dangerous moves to provoke tensions.

He made the remarks after a US intelligence report said that Takaichi's comments last year on Taiwan represented a "significant shift" for a sitting Japanese leader.

The report, issued on Wednesday, said Takaichi's assertion that a Taiwan emergency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan is worthy of attention, as such a characterization could provide legal justification for Japan's involvement.

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

"China has repeatedly made clear its solemn position on the matter," he said.

Lin said Japan cannot justify itself or win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community by merely repeating that its position remains unchanged.

He urged Japan to reflect on its actions, correct its course, and honor with concrete actions the four political documents signed between China and Japan, as well as its own commitments.

He also called on Japan to abide by the pacifist provisions of its constitution and not go further down the wrong path.