China says ties with Japan still face 'serious difficulties'

China on Friday said that its ties with Japan still face "serious difficulties," one year after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan.

"Currently, Japan-China relations are facing serious difficulties, and responsibility lies entirely with Japan's side," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference on Friday.

Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated significantly since Takaichi said on Nov. 7, 2025 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, potentially allowing Tokyo to exercise its right to collective self-defense.

Her remarks "have shaken the political foundation of relations between our two countries," Guo said, adding that there had been no progress over the past year and that Japanese authorities had shown no sincerity or taken action to reflect on their wrongdoing.

"Once again, we want to make clear that it is urgent for the Japanese side to correct these erroneous remarks on the Taiwan question," Guo said, urging Japan to adopt a "correct attitude" toward historical issues and take a "rational and objective view" of China.