Video | Eastern Theater Command, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Make Major Statements Responding to Japanese Self-Defense Force Vessels Transiting the Taiwan Strait

On the 17th, the Eastern Theater Command, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a significant statement in response to the incident of the Japan Self-Defense Forces' vessel transiting the Taiwan Strait.

Eastern Theater Command: Monitoring and vigilance throughout, effective regulation and control

Colonel Xu Chenghua, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, stated that from 4:02 to 17:50 on April 17, the Japanese destroyer "Asahi" transited the Taiwan Strait, sending a wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to monitor and maintain vigilance throughout, implementing effective regulation and control. The troops in the theater remain on high alert at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability.

Ministry of Defense: Firmly countering all foreign interference schemes

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Zhang Xiaogang: The Japanese destroyer "Asahi" transited the Taiwan Strait, and the Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to monitor it throughout, effectively controlling the situation. We have made solemn representations to the Japanese side and expressed strong protests. The Japanese side's actions are deliberate provocations, making mistakes one after another; what is their intention? Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made erroneous statements regarding Taiwan and has yet to show any remorse. The Japan Self-Defense Forces' vessels stirring up trouble in the Taiwan Strait and sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces will only incite greater indignation among the Chinese people and further strengthen our determination to counter the Japanese side's provocative actions. We urge the Japanese side to recognize their mistakes, adhere to the One China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and not to stray further down the wrong path. The Chinese military will always maintain a high level of readiness, firmly countering all foreign interference schemes and defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Urging the Japanese side to stop before it's too late and not to stray further down the wrong path

On April 17, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jikun stated that the Japan Self-Defense Forces' vessels have entered the Taiwan Strait for activities, and the Chinese military has dealt with it in accordance with the law and regulations. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's erroneous statements regarding Taiwan have already caused serious impacts on China-Japan relations. The Japanese side sending Self-Defense Forces vessels into the Taiwan Strait to show off military strength and provoke deliberately is a mistake upon mistake. This further exposes the dangerous schemes of some people in Japan attempting to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait and undermine peace and stability in the region. This action severely undermines the political foundation of China-Japan relations and poses a serious threat to China's sovereignty and security. China firmly opposes this and has lodged strong protests with the Japanese side. The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is a fundamental political issue in China-Japan relations, representing a red line that cannot be crossed. China once again urges the Japanese side to genuinely reflect and correct their mistakes, stop before it's too late, and act cautiously, not to stray further down the wrong path.