The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday slammed Japan for attempting to downplay, fob off and cover up Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's provocative remarks on China's Taiwan, calling such efforts "self-deceptive" and unacceptable. 

Takaichi's remarks seriously violated the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and undermined the political foundation of bilateral ties, provoking strong public indignation in China, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference.

Guo said Takaichi's claim that she would avoid discussing specific scenarios in the future is entirely different from formally retracting the erroneous remarks.

"This is merely plugging one's ears while stealing a bell," he said, adding that China will never accept such an approach.

(Cover: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun speaks at a press conference in Beijing, October 24, 2025. /VCG)