INTERNATIONAL: The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin boldly says that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has disregarded the basic principles of international relations and the four principles of China-Japan political documents, he has blatantly talked about China's internal affairs on the Taiwan issue. China is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it. China has made solemn representations through diplomatic channels.

Japan has colonized Taiwan for half a century, has committed countless crimes, and bears serious historical responsibilities to the Chinese people. No one should underestimate the Chinese people's strong determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Anyone who dares to go back to the old path of militarism and challenge the bottom line of the Chinese people will get their heads badly battered, the Chinese senior official has concluded.

China strongly opposed comments made by Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Taiwan, its foreign ministry has announced on Wednesday.

Japan and the United States could not stand by if China attacked Taiwan, and Beijing needs to understand this, former Japanese PM Abe has said in Tokyo earlier on Wednesday, during a virtual forum organized by a Taiwanese think tank. A strong Taiwan that "guarantees freedom and human rights" are in the world's interests, Mr. Shinzo Abe highlighted.

In reaction, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has declared in a conference in Beijing that "no one should underestimate the Chinese people's strong determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Tensions over Chinese-claimed Taiwan have risen as China's President Xi Jinping seeks to assert his country's sovereignty claims against the democratically ruled island. Taiwan's government says it wants peace, but will defend itself if needed.