Russia again slams Japanese PM's Taiwan-related remarks

MOSCOW - A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday once again slammed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan-related remarks, saying Japan has not yet acknowledged its mistakes 80 years after World War II.

"Eighty years have passed, and Japan still refuses to recognize the results of World War II, as enshrined in international law," spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a daily press conference when answering a question from Xinhua on the blatant Taiwan-related remarks made earlier this month by Takaichi.

A number of countries loudly declare their commitment to the one-China principle, but at the same time continue to cynically escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and obstruct the peaceful reunification of China, she said.

They supply weapons to the island, actively strengthen military and political contact, promote separatist sentiments, and use the Chinese province of Taiwan as an instrument of pressure and geopolitical containment of the People's Republic of China, the spokesperson said.

Zakharova noted that Russia's position on the Taiwan question is well known and has not changed. "The Russian side recognizes that Taiwan is an integral part of China and opposes the island's independence in any form," she said.

The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and China has every legitimate reason to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, she added.

Russia, as a true friend and reliable partner of China in the international arena, is ready to continue to provide firm mutual support to China on issues related to sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the Taiwan question, she noted.

In an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday, Zakharova said Japan's current leader should learn from history and refrain from making dangerous statements regarding Taiwan.

"It would be good if those politicians who come to govern Japan remember this, understand where irresponsible statements lead, and refrain from making them," she said.