In a renewed display of diplomatic tension, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian took to social media platform X over the weekend to assert China’s stance on Taiwan. Lin shared excerpts from both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration to reaffirm that Japan’s sovereignty does not extend to Taiwan. This statement came in response to remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Kishi Nobumasa on November 7, in which he suggested Japan might consider military intervention in the Taiwan Strait amidst escalating tensions.
During a parliamentary inquiry, Kishi hinted that if Taiwan were to face military aggression, it could be classified as a “survival crisis,” allowing Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to invoke collective self-defense measures. This statement prompted strong reactions from former Japanese Prime Ministers and led to a formal diplomatic protest from China, condemning Kishi’s comments as deeply problematic.
Lin Jian’s posts included a reference to Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration, which delineates Japan’s post-war territorial boundaries and the return of territories Japan had seized. He reiterated, “The Cairo Declaration’s conditions must be enacted, and Japan’s sovereignty will be limited to Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, and the small islands we determine it may keep.”
Additionally, Lin shared an excerpt from the Cairo Declaration which states that all territories Japan seized from China, such as Manchuria, Formosa (Taiwan), and the Penghu Islands, should be returned to China.
In a related statement, Mao Ning, another spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, invoked the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Communiqué through a bilingual social media post on November 16. This communiqué recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China and acknowledged Taiwan as an inseparable part of Chinese territory. Mao emphasized, “Regardless of who is in power, Japan must honor its commitments.”
This ongoing dialogue highlights the complexities of Sino-Japanese relations and signals a period of heightened scrutiny over territorial claims and diplomatic interactions, especially regarding Taiwan’s status on the international stage.