China on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) reiterated its demand that Japan retract Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about Taiwan, more than a month after Ms. Takaichi said an attack on the democratically governed island could be deemed an existential threat to Japan.

“On key issues, Japan is still ‘squeezing toothpaste’ and ‘burying nails’, attempting to obfuscate and muddle through,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a regular press briefing, adding that Beijing is “firmly opposed to this”.

Diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Beijing have been at their lowest in years after Ms. Takaichi suggested a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Military response from Tokyo.