China Condemns Japanese Destroyer Transit of Taiwan Strait

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office issued consecutive condemnations of Japan after a Japan Self-Defense Forces destroyer transited the Taiwan Strait. The vessel was traveling to participate in joint military exercises with the United States and the Philippines.

On April 21, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused Japan of flexing military muscles and undermining regional stability. He stated that Japan must reflect on its history of aggression, specifically referencing the invasion and colonization of Southeast Asian nations during World War II, and urged the country to exercise caution in security matters.

Following this, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office characterized the deployment as a deliberate provocation. Spokesperson Zhang Han asserted that the move demonstrates a malicious attempt to militarily interfere in Taiwan affairs and jeopardizes China's sovereignty. He emphasized that the action undermines the political foundation of China-Japan relations and demanded that Japan adhere to the one-China principle.