摘要：When asked to comment on a recent claim by the Japanese government that the 1972 China-Japan Joint statement is "not legally bindi

When asked to comment on a recent claim by the Japanese government that the 1972 China-Japan Joint statement is "not legally binding" and does not restrict Japanese local councilors' activities in Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Monday that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. China firmly opposes official interaction of any form between China's Taiwan region and countries having diplomatic ties with China. The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson/MFA PRC

Mao noted that in 1972, the Chinese and Japanese governments signed the China-Japan Joint Statement, in which the Japanese side explicitly pledged that "The Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. The Government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this position of the Government of the People's Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its position under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation." Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation reiterates that the "terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." And the 1943 Cairo Declaration explicitly demands that "all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored" to China. These documents not only confirm the fact that Taiwan belongs to China, but also constitute the legal basis for ending the state of war between the Allied Nations and Japan and building the post-war international order in the Asia-Pacific. They certainly are legally binding.

"In 1978, China and Japan signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, in which the two sides affirmed that the China-Japan Joint Statement 'constitutes the basis for relations of peace and friendship between the two countries and that the principles set out in that statement should be strictly observed.' The treaty was signed by the Chinese and Japanese governments, and officially came into effect after deliberation and approval by the legislators of the two countries. It affirmed the principles and contents of the joint statement in legal terms and is certainly legally binding." Mao further added.

Mao pointed out that Taiwan has been back under China's sovereign jurisdiction for 80 years. The Japanese side attempted to obscure historical facts regarding the Taiwan question, which severely misleads the Japanese people, violates the Japanese government's promise of adhering to the one-China principle, challenges the political foundation of China-Japan relations and sends a significantly wrong message to the "Taiwan independence" forces. China firmly opposes this.

"We seriously urge the Japanese side to abide by the principles and spirit of the four political documents with China, earnestly fulfill relevant legal obligations, act prudently on the Taiwan question and honor its promise of adhering to the one-China principle with concrete actions." Mao said. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)

来源：中国青年报