China slams Japan leader's egregious comments about Taiwan

BEIJING -- China on Wednesday expressed "strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition" to egregious remarks about Taiwan made in parliament by Japan's leader, saying they severely violated the one-China principle and constituted gross interference in China's internal affairs.

"The world has only one China and Taiwan is part of China," said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a regular press conference when asked about these comments.

Chen's remarks came after Japan's leader recently made statements concerning Taiwan during a parliamentary session. These statements drew sharp criticism from China.

"Japan has committed crimes in history against the Chinese people on the Taiwan question," Chen stated, noting that during its colonial rule over Taiwan for half a century, Japan committed innumerable crimes.

The spokesperson highlighted that 80 years ago, China defeated the Japanese aggressors and restored Taiwan -- thereby ending Japan's occupation and plunder of the island.

"Today, 80 years later, should anyone attempt to challenge China's core interests and obstruct China's reunification, the Chinese government, Chinese people and Chinese military will never accept it and never tolerate it," Chen warned.

He urged Japan to "deeply reflect on history, draw lessons from history, strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, honor its political commitments on the Taiwan question, and exercise extreme caution when handling Taiwan-related matters."

The spokesperson also issued a stern warning to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities, stating that "any scheme to rely on external forces to split Taiwan from China is doomed to fail."