China Intensifies Pressure on Japan Over Taiwan Remark, Challenges Tokyo’s Legal Basis

Overview

• Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun rejected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s reliance on the San Francisco Peace Treaty and cited the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Proclamation and the 1972 communique to affirm China’s claim over Taiwan.
• Beijing criticized Japan’s Cabinet-approved written reply as evasive, with Mao Ning urging Tokyo to clarify its “consistent position,” retract Takaichi’s comment and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump called Takaichi after a China–U.S. leaders’ phone call and advised her not to provoke Beijing over Taiwan, while Tokyo declined to say whether the topic was discussed.
• China’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for publicly backing Takaichi and posting a sushi photo, calling his actions disgraceful and accusing him of seeking favor with Japan.
• Cambodia reaffirmed its one‑China policy as China widened pressure on Japan with renewed travel warnings, a continued halt to resuming Japanese seafood imports and a UN letter warning that any Japanese armed intervention would constitute aggression.