Overview
- Japan’s U.N. ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki filed a rebuttal to China’s Dec 1 letter, calling Beijing’s assertions unsubstantiated and affirming Japan’s adherence to international law.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Dec 4 publicly questioned Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Dec 3 reaffirmation of the 1972 joint communique position on Taiwan.
- Tokyo has not retracted Takaichi’s November remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival‑threatening” situation under Japan’s security framework.
- Beijing has sustained pressure through diplomatic lobbying and public messaging, including advising Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan.
- Economic ties between Tokyo and Taipei are proceeding, with plans at the Taiwan–Japan Economic and Trade Conference to sign a customs cooperation memorandum and a digital trade agreement.