Recently, the United States and its allies have once again raised the Taiwan issue at the World Health Assembly.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken openly expressed strong encouragement for the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer.
This action demonstrates that the U.S. has been using international platforms for years in an attempt to support "Taiwan independence," aligning with some "separatist forces" to achieve its political objectives.
Recently, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller even exaggeratedly claimed that the United Nations Resolution 2758, passed in 1971, does not support the mainland's claims over Taiwan.
However, regardless of how the U.S. hypes and distorts international law, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson has made it clear that, according to UNGA Resolution 2758, "Taiwan is a province of China," and the WHO has rejected Taiwan's request to participate as an observer.
Besides the U.S., Japan has also played an inglorious role in this matter, covertly supporting and instigating the Taiwan issue.
In the recent 77th World Health Assembly general debate, the Chinese representative unusually and directly criticized Japan by name.
The Chinese representative pointed out that Japan has been particularly active regarding Taiwan at this session of the WHA.
The Chinese representative emphasized that Japan has a serious historical responsibility regarding Taiwan and is the least qualified to comment on the Taiwan issue.
The representative also recalled history, noting that at the end of the 19th century, Japan seized the opportunity to annex Taiwan, leading to half a century of Japanese rule over Taiwan and causing significant national pain to China.
This was a reminder that Japan's illegal occupation of Taiwan resulted in today's cross-strait separation.
In the mid-20th century, China won a brutal war against Japan, with 35 million military and civilian casualties, achieving victory at a tremendous cost.
Japan, in the terms of its surrender, promised to comply with the Potsdam Declaration, which required the unconditional return of Taiwan to China.
The Chinese representative stressed that Japan, having been defeated in the war and signed international treaties, has no right to interfere in the Taiwan issue.
Today, in the 21st century, the trend toward Chinese reunification is irreversible, and the 1.4 billion Chinese people will not allow any country to provoke China’s core interests, including Japan.
China warned all countries, including Japan, that attempting to provoke China's core interests is impossible.
The Chinese representative's speech was clear and powerful, leaving no ambiguity for Japan.
Regarding the post-World War II international order, Japan, as a defeated nation, is subject to multiple international treaties' restrictions and constraints.
However, due to U.S. protection, Japan largely escaped historical accountability.
China believes these historical issues cannot be ignored.
Moreover, Japan is making new mistakes by coveting Chinese territory and continuously provoking on the Taiwan issue.
In recent years, Japan has been expanding its military, attempting to escape constitutional constraints, and even building missile bases in the southwestern islands as a front-line position against Taiwan.
Japan's defense white paper also lists China as the "greatest strategic challenge" and develops "pre-emptive strike capabilities."
Recently, Japan has also strengthened defense cooperation with the Philippines and participated in joint patrols in the South China Sea.
These actions not only leave historical issues unresolved but also create new problems. China has never been ambiguous about historical grievances, and Japan should recognize its position correctly.
Referring to the Potsdam Declaration, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying mentioned Article 8, which explicitly states that Japan's territory is limited to Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku, and other islands as determined by us.
This does not include the Ryukyu Islands, which is now Okinawa.
Okinawa was once under UN trusteeship but was later handed over to Japan by the U.S.
Today, plans by the U.S. and Japan to build Okinawa into a missile base have caused panic and dissatisfaction among local residents.
China has an obligation to address the demands of the Ryukyu people according to international law.
China usually does not actively suppress Japan, but this does not mean China has no means to respond.
Japan can continue to provoke, but both old and new grievances will eventually be settled.
Through the above remarks, the Chinese representative's criticism of Japan and the revisiting of historical issues at the WHA demonstrate China’s firm stance on the Taiwan issue and its respect for international law.
This also sends a strong message that any country's attempt to provoke China's core interests is futile.
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