China warns Japan against denying its aggressive history and calls on it to take the right path

The Chinese minister added, during his meeting in Beijing with the President of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, Takeshi Iwaya, that Japan is once again facing the test of history in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of the start of the “Tokyo Trials.” Warning that if Japan refuses to draw lessons from the lessons of history, challenges the peaceful post-war constitution, denies its history of aggression, or glorifies war criminals, it will not be able to confront the world, and there will be no talk of building a future.

He pointed out that as the 55th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries approaches next year, Japan must adopt a correct position on historical issues and form an objective and rational perception of China, appreciating the association’s adherence to the political basis of bilateral ties during difficult times.

Wang expressed his hope that the association and all the "visionary people" would continue to carry forward the tradition of friendship and push Japan to make the right choice and provide a satisfactory answer.

For his part, Iwaya said that the current state of Japanese-Chinese relations is worrying, noting that the association will continue the legacy of its former president, Yohei Kono, and will work to return bilateral relations to the original goal and starting point represented in the four political documents between Japan and China.

He added that Japan must not forget the lessons of the past, and Japanese politicians must guide the country towards the right path and firmly commit to the path of peaceful development.

At the end of last year, relations between Tokyo and Beijing witnessed severe tension, following statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, in which she said that any emergency situation around Taiwan “if combined with the use of warships and military force, can be considered an existential crisis.” It later became clear that this answer was not prepared in advance as an official response, but rather that Takaichi improvised it.

Beijing considers Taiwan an integral part of the People's Republic of China, and adherence to the "one China" principle is a basic condition for other countries wishing to establish or maintain diplomatic relations with China.