Tokyo rejects Beijing's UN letter over Japan PM's Taiwan remarks

Friday 05 December 2025 - 16:20

By: Sahili Aya

Tokyo rejects Beijing's UN letter over Japan PM's Taiwan remarks

Japan has formally rejected China’s recent letter to the United Nations criticizing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. Japan’s UN ambassador, Kazuyuki Yamazaki, described China’s accusations as “inconsistent with the facts” and emphasized Japan’s commitment to dialogue and international law.

The exchange comes after China’s permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, raised concerns about Takaichi’s remarks on November 7, which suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” and potentially justify Japan’s exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Beijing sharply condemned the statements, suspended seafood imports from Japan, discouraged Chinese tourism to the country, and postponed a trilateral culture ministers’ meeting with Japan and South Korea.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Yamazaki responded to Beijing’s Nov. 24 communication, noting that China’s claims were “unsubstantiated, inconsistent with facts, and categorically unacceptable.” He reiterated that Tokyo has consistently contributed to international peace and stability by adhering to international law since World War II.

Yamazaki emphasized that “differences of opinion should be resolved through dialogue, in line with the spirit of the UN Charter,” and stressed that Japan would continue addressing disagreements calmly and diplomatically.

The diplomatic row highlights ongoing tensions in East Asia over Taiwan, where statements by officials from Tokyo and Beijing are closely scrutinized for their potential security implications.