MUNICH – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a stern rebuke to Japan during his speech at the Munich Security Conference, focusing on dangerous trends in Tokyo’s rhetoric and actions toward Taiwan. Addressing the ‘China in the World’ panel on Saturday, he condemned Japanese leaders’ misguided comments on the Taiwan issue as a direct assault on China’s core interests and the hard-won post-war global framework.
‘The Japanese prime minister has openly stated that a Taiwan Strait contingency would be an existential threat to Japan,’ Wang said, calling it an unprecedented and reckless assertion from any postwar Japanese leader.
Wang drew historical parallels, praising Germany’s decisive rejection of its fascist past through banning Nazi symbols and ideology. In contrast, he accused Japan of perpetuating militarism by venerating war criminals at shrines, signaling unextinguished desires for territorial expansion and colonial domination over Taiwan.
‘Japan must heed history’s lessons and atone properly,’ Wang implored, warning that failure to do so invites self-inflicted ruin. He appealed to the international community to hold Japan accountable and deter any militaristic revival.
Turning to Washington, Wang framed US-China relations as pivotal to world stability. Echoing President Xi’s vision, he advocated for respect, peaceful cohabitation, and collaborative gains—principles China commits to, contingent on US reciprocity.
He noted positively Trump’s admiration for Xi and pledges of partnership against global woes, but highlighted persistent anti-China hawks in America pushing suppression tactics.
Wang sketched divergent futures: a cooperative path yielding shared prosperity, versus confrontation via economic decoupling, tech curbs, and Taiwan meddling—actions that would provoke inevitable clashes. ‘China will safeguard its bottom lines resolutely,’ he declared.
Wang concluded optimistically, prioritizing opportunities while bracing for challenges, asserting that the cooperative model rooted in respect is destined to triumph.