By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily
Recently, China, in accordance with its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, imposed countermeasures on Keiji Furuya, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives.
This is a just and necessary step to safeguard national sovereignty and uphold international law, as well as a stern warning to Japanese right-wing forces and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces for their increasingly close collusion and deliberate provocations.
Furuya has repeatedly visited Taiwan and engaged in close collusion with “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. Recently, he even openly clamored that Japan is determined to protect Taiwan, Taiwan’s democracy, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Despite China’s repeated and solemn representations of its position, Furuya has shown no restraint, persisting in his actions without regard for consequences. His conduct seriously violates the one-China principle and the principles set forth in the four political documents between China and Japan, grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs, and severely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Following China’s lawful response, Japan’s characterization of these measures as “unacceptable and regrettable” demonstrates a fundamental misjudgment of China’s resolve to defend its sovereignty. These objections fail to alter the clear international consensus on this matter.
Even within Japan, these remarks have drawn criticism from the insightful. Some Japanese netizens have called on Furuya to resign as soon as possible, noting that the more unnecessary actions the Sanae Takashi administration takes, the more difficult life becomes for ordinary people.
The historical context and legal foundations regarding the Taiwan question are crystal clear. In 1895, Japan forcibly seized Taiwan through the Treaty of Shimonoseki and subsequently imposed half a century of brutal colonial rule.
During this period, hundreds of thousands of Taiwan compatriots were killed, the island’s economic resources plundered, and national culture deliberately suppressed.
In 1945, after 14 years of arduous and heroic struggle, the Chinese people won the great victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In August that year, the Japanese government announced its acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation and unconditional surrender.
In September, Japan formally signed the Instrument of Surrender, pledging to faithfully fulfill all obligations under the Potsdam Proclamation.
On this basis, the Chinese government has resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan. Subsequently, in the four political documents between China and Japan, the Japanese government made explicit commitments on the Taiwan question. These commitments carry the force of international law and leave no room for ambiguity or misinterpretation.
Japan bears historical responsibility toward the Chinese people on the Taiwan question and should have deeply reflected on its past and acted with prudence. However, Japanese right-wing forces have not learned from history. Instead, they have intensified collusion with “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and repeatedly provoked China on the Taiwan question.
Recently, Shigeru Iwasaki, the former chief of the Joint Staff of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, has taken up a position as a so-called “policy adviser” to the Taiwan authorities. Japan has also condoned the chief of Taiwan’s executive body Cho Jung-tai to visit Japan under the pretext of “attending a baseball game,” engaging in separatist provocations.
China remains highly vigilant regarding these developments and firmly opposes Japan’s attempts to play edge-ball tactics and seek breakthroughs on the Taiwan question. Japan’s indulgence of provocations and reckless behavior will inevitably come at a cost, and all consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the Japanese side.
The open collusion between Japanese right-wing forces and “Taiwan independence” separatist forces is both an external manifestation of deeply rooted colonial mindsets and an attempt to use the Taiwan question as a pretext to hype up regional tensions and advance re-militarization.
Recently, Japan has continued to strengthen its military deployments in its southwestern islands, accelerating the deployment of anti-ship missiles on Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island, and planning to station medium-range air defense missile units on Yonaguni Island, just 110 kilometers from Taiwan, by fiscal year 2030. A newly formed joint fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is expected to operate mainly in the East China Sea near Taiwan.
One cannot help but ask: while Japanese right-wing politicians claim to “safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” why are their actions repeatedly breaching the exclusively defensive policy and encouraging, or even instigating, military collusion between Japan and Taiwan? Who, in fact, is undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait?
The Taiwan question lies at the very core of China’s core interests. Any provocation that seeks to meddle in the Taiwan question will come at a cost. China urges the Japanese side to learn from history, immediately cease playing with fire on the Taiwan question, and stop colluding with “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to create disturbances. Otherwise, it will inevitably face resolute and forceful countermeasures.
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)
