China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan on Friday, saying they sent a gravely erroneous signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces. Beijing also condemned Taiwan authorities' attempts to ingratiate themselves with Japan. Amid escalating diplomatic tensions, Japanese music events in Shanghai were abruptly canceled, sparking fan backlash and nationalist sentiments.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent remarks on Taiwan have sparked diplomatic friction between China and Japan. Last month, Takaichi, a vocal critic of China, suggested Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan. Beijing regards self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out force to 'reunite' with it. Both sides have lodged protests since, with the rift affecting daily life in both countries.
On Friday, at a regular press conference in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Takaichi's comments sent a gravely erroneous signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and blasted the Democratic Progressive Party authorities' disgraceful bid to curry favor with Japan, such as Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's stunt of eating sushi with Japanese seafood. Mao noted Japan imposed colonial rule on Taiwan for half a century and committed innumerable crimes there. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China. She urged Japan to deeply reflect on its war crimes, learn from history, adhere to the one-China principle, and exercise utmost prudence on the Taiwan issue.
'We ask the Japanese side to retract the erroneous remarks, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and take practical steps to honor its commitments to China,' Mao said. She reiterated that China has never recognized or accepted the so-called 'Treaty of San Francisco,' rendering any provisions on Taiwan sovereignty or China's territorial rights as a non-signatory illegal and void. Meanwhile, the four political documents between China and Japan clearly stipulate the Taiwan question and form the political foundation of bilateral ties.
The tensions have spilled over into cultural exchanges. On Friday, during a three-day music festival in Shanghai, Japanese singer Maki Otsuki was interrupted mid-performance of the One Piece theme song when lights and music cut off, and she was rushed off stage by two crew members. Her management attributed the halt to 'unavoidable circumstances' and noted kind treatment from local staff. Subsequent festival events were canceled after considering various factors. Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki's Saturday concert in Shanghai was axed citing 'force majeure,' but she performed to 14,000 empty seats to show appreciation for her team and staff.
Fans criticized the moves as 'rude' and 'extreme' on social media, with some creating memes likening Otsuki's exit to the 2022 removal of China's former leader Hu Jintao from a Communist Party meeting. U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass posted on X regretting that people couldn't feel music's power and urged Otsuki to 'keep holding on to convictions' with a link to Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin'.' However, nationalist voices on Chinese platforms questioned why the event proceeded amid national anger toward Japan. Two weeks ago, Chinese state media announced postponements of at least two popular Japanese anime films amid the row.