Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's extremely erroneous and hostile remarks on China's Taiwan have drawn harsh criticism at home, with stern warnings from China over her irresponsible act. At a Diet meeting last week, she claimed that a "Taiwan emergency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. China has lodged strong protests, saying it is a blatant interference in China's internal affairs. Despite China's serious démarches and protests, she refused to retract her remarks that imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao met Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi on Friday to lodge solemn representations and a formal protest over the issue. Wu said that Takaichi's blatant and provocative remarks on China's Taiwan violated basic common sense, crossed China's red line, threatened with force, and called for war. Moreover, she refused to admit her mistakes, refused to retract her statements or mitigate the adverse impact. It is a complete misjudgment of the situation and an overestimation of one's own strength, Wu said. The remarks constituted a gross interference in China's internal affairs and violated international law, the basic norms governing international relations, the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and severely undermined the post-war international order and the political foundation of China-Japan relations, the Chinese ambassador said. Wu said that China solemnly warns the Japanese side that today's China is no longer the China of the past. Should the Japanese side dare to use force to interfere in the Taiwan question, it will constitute an act of aggression, and only suffer a crushing defeat. China strongly urges Japan to deeply reflect on its history, retract its egregious statements, and stop its provocations and overstepping behaviors. Otherwise, it must bear all the consequences that follow. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong on Thursday summoned the Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi, making serious démarches over the issue and calling Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan "extremely wrong and dangerous." Sun urged Japan to deeply reflect on its historical crimes and responsibilities, immediately reflect and correct its mistakes, withdraw its bad remarks, and not go further down the wrong path. On Friday, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, made admonitory remarks. Also on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that China is deeply concerned over Japan's recent military and security moves. Takaichi's remarks have sparked domestic outcry, with some senior politicians terming her statements as irresponsible. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who held office from 2009 to 2010, said on his social media account that Takaichi is stoking crisis to justify military expansion. He added that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair. Yoshihiko Noda, who served as Japanese prime minister from 2011 to 2012, also called Takaichi's remarks a risky and reckless move. The term "survival-threatening situation" used by Takaichi is a legal term under Japan's 2015 security law, referring to an existential threat to which the country can activate its self-defense forces. By dragging the Taiwan question into Japan's already-contested security framework, Takaichi is deliberately blurring the boundary between defensive policy and outright militaristic adventurism. It is a reckless gambit that ignores Japan's constitutional limits, disregards public sentiment, and gambles with the security of the entire region. The logical contortions in Takaichi's remarks are staggering. A so-called "survival-threatening situation" refers to a clear danger situation in which an armed attack on a foreign country with which Japan has close relations threatens Japan's survival. China's Taiwan is plainly not "a country" with close ties to Japan, nor does any conceivable Taiwan contingency amount to a clear threat to the survival of the Japanese state or the basic rights of its citizens. To shoehorn Taiwan into the category of a "survival-threatening situation" is a deliberate distortion and a calculated political provocation. Rong Ying, a chair professor at the Sichuan University, alerted that the very term can be misleading as well, since Japan had used similar excuses to wage wars against other countries. The Sino-Japanese Joint Statement was agreed by the two sides in 1972, which is one of the four political documents serving as the ballast stone of their relations. Three decades ago, then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama made a statement saying Japan had followed a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. He called these as irrefutable facts of history. Takakage Fujita, secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, said the statement expressed deep remorse for Japan's colonial rule and aggression to countries including China, while Takaichi's recent remarks run counter to the statement's spirit. In 1895, Japan forcibly annexed Taiwan through the Treaty of Shimonoseki, implementing a 50-year colonial rule, ruthlessly suppressing Taiwan people's resistance, plundering massive resources, and causing severe damages to Taiwan's economy, culture, and livelihoods. Taiwan's restoration to China in 1945 is a legal fact inscribed in the history of the Allied victory in World War II, remaining integral to the post-war international order. Historic documents provide interlocking provisions of international law that unequivocally affirm the legal basis for the return of Taiwan stolen by Japan from China. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender in 1945 referred to the legal foundation for territorial arrangements and the post-war order, as cited from the Cairo Declaration. Four years later, the People's Republic of China became the sole legal government representing all of China. Its sovereignty and territory over Taiwan was inked in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. Many believe Takaichi's provocation aims to please the United States rather than ensure its own security. Magosaki also thinks the Japanese government is using the Taiwan question to divert domestic frustration, such as a declining economy. No matter whether Tokyo can adopt a correct and proper approach to the Taiwan question and respect China's sovereignty, China's stance is consistent, that is China cherishes peace, but is also resolute in defending its core interests. Shotlist: Beijing, China - Nov 14, 2025: FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 1. Various of Tian'anmen Rostrum, national flag of China; Beijing, China - Nov 14, 2025 2. Picture of Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao (L), picture of Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi (R); FILE: Taipei City, Taiwan, China - Date Unknown 3. Various of Taipei 101 Tower, traffic; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 4. Various of National Diet building; Beijing, China - Nov 14, 2025 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesman, Ministry of National Defense: "Should the Japanese side fail to draw lessons from history and dare to take a risk, or even use force to interfere in the Taiwan question, it will only suffer a crushing defeat against the steel-willed People's Liberation Army and pay a heavy price."; FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 6. Various of building of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, national flag of China, sign; Beijing, China - Nov 14, 2025 7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lin Jian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "This action constitutes gross interference in China's internal affairs, a serious violation of international law and the fundamental norms of international relations. It also severely undermines the post-war international order and is a grave breach of the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, seriously damaging the political foundation of bilateral ties and hurting the feelings of the Chinese people."; Beijing, China - Nov 16, 2025 8. Screenshot of post by former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama; 9. Screenshot of post by former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda; 10. Various of Taipei 101 Tower, traffic; Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, southwest China - Recent 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Rong Ying, chair professor at the Sichuan University (partially overlaid with shots 12-14): "Existential threating is a very serious term with special and historical connotations in the case of Japan. As we know, historically, Japanese militarism and the Japanese Empire, in modern times, had in many times used this term to justify its aggression against its neighbors. For Chinese, [it is important to] clearly remember that back on September 18, 1931, the September 18th Incident, it was exactly this justification which the Japanese military used to wage war against Chinese, marking the beginning of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. And arguably, 10 years later, on December 7, 1941, during the Pearl Harbor surprise attack waged by Japan, they again used similar justifications." ;SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; FILE: Beijing, China - Sept 1, 2025 12. Aerial shot of Tian'anmen Square, Monument to People's Heroes, decorations, Chang'an Avenue; 13. Various of Tian'anmen Square, decorations, commemorative platforms with year sign; 14. Monument to People's Heroes [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; Beijing, China - Nov 16, 2025 15. Highlight of Sino-Japanese Joint Statement; 16. Various of remarks by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, highlight; Tokyo, Japan - Nov 14, 2025 17. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takakage Fujita, secretary-general, Association for Inheriting and Propagating Murayama Statement (ending with shots 18-20): "[I believe] the Murayama Statement expressed deep reflection on the enormous harm Japan's war of aggression caused to the Chinese people and offered a solemn apology, pledging never to repeat such mistakes. Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan obviously deny the spirit of the Murayama Statement and are foolish comments tantamount to trampling on the Murayama Statement."; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 18. Various of Japan's National Diet building, national flag; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 19. National Diet building; 20. Sign reading "The National Diet Main Gate"; FILE: Taipei City, Taiwan, China - Date Unknown 21. Monument marking victory against Japanese aggression, Taiwan's recovery from Japanese occupation; Beijing, China - Nov 16, 2025 22. Screenshot of U.S.-UK-China-endorsed document, highlight; Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, southwest China - Recent 23. SOUNDBITE (English) Rong Ying, chair professor at the Sichuan University: "For the first time in history, I mean since 1945 when Japan was defeated, Takeaichi, a high-ranking official as a prime minister, connected the so-called Taiwan contingency equally to Japanese contingency and the exercise of self-defense right, which is limited by the Japanese Pacifist Constitution. And also, for the first time, it is a kind of intention or an announced intention that Japan would use armed force to intervene in China's Taiwan question; and for the first time, I think, Japan threatened China that it would use military forces. So it's a very serious and grave development. That's why the Chinese government has responded, and also the public has, as well, responded so strongly."; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 24. Various of Japan's National Diet building, national flag; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 25. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Tokyo, Japan - Nov 13, 2025 26. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Ukeru Magosaki, former Japanese Foreign Ministry official: "Taiwan is a part of China. Why should it be related to Japan's 'survival-threatening situation'? For Japan, it mainly concerns ship movements on the Pacific side, but there is no direct link to Japan's 'survival-threatening situation'. This rhetoric is being deliberately fueled to create tension, undermine China-Japan relations, and push Japan to further cooperate with the U.S. strategy. That is likely Takaichi's intention."; Tokyo, Japan - October 2025 27. Various of Liberal Democratic Party building, security guard; Tokyo, Japan - Nov 13, 2025 28. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Ukeru Magosaki, former Japanese Foreign Ministry official (ending with shot 29): "This is not only driven by certain right-wing forces. Many people's economic frustrations are being artificially tied to a supposed 'China threat.' That is the key point. By this way, domestic discontent is redirected and absorbed. A mechanism like this has taken shape."; Tokyo, Japan - Oct 21, 2025 29. Various of pedestrians, traffic; FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 30. Various of Great Hall of the people, flags, national emblem; Beijing, China - Nov 14, 2025 31. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lin Jian, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (partially overlaid with shot 32): "China cherishes peace and values good faith. When it comes to China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and any other issues concerning China's core interests, no one shall ever expect any compromise or concession from China. No one shall have the illusion that China will swallow the bitter fruit that undermines its interests. No one shall seek to challenge the bottom line of the Chinese people, for whoever try to do so will be dealt a head-on blow and find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people. For anyone who dare to hold back China's reunification, failure will be their fate." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 32. Reporters [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; FILE: Beijing, China - Sept 3, 2025 33. Various of balloons floating past Monument to the People's Heroes. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]