Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara declined on Friday to say whether Japan would meet China's demand to retract Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Diet remark that a Taiwan contingency could amount to a survival-threatening situation — the legal trigger for collective self-defense — with the one-year anniversary of the answer falling on Saturday.
At a press conference, Kihara said only that the government's stance on recognizing such a situation is consistent: "We judge by taking all information into account." He did not address the retraction request directly.
He stressed that nothing had changed under the 1972 Japan-China joint communiqué, in which Tokyo stated it fully understands and respects China's position that there is only one China. China, which treats the Taiwan issue as a core interest, views the prime minister's answer as interference in its internal affairs and has demanded it be withdrawn.
Kihara also said China is an important neighbor and that Japan will pursue dialogue to protect its national interests and build a constructive, stable relationship.
Okinawa talks and a cabinet milestone
The government also held its first Okinawa policy conference in 13 years, with the session lasting 15 minutes. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki asked that the government treat the issue as a top priority across all ministries, and Takaichi attended and instructed ministers to study the matter.
Separately, Kihara said work to restore wells is being sped up three months after the Kumamoto earthquake, and marked one year since the Takaichi administration took office by saying the government will keep its promises to the public.