Last month on October 24, 2025, at a Beijing press conference, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, fired a diplomatic salvo at Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi. He slammed her decision to highlight the “illegal and invalid” San Francisco Peace Treaty, while skipping over other key postwar documents like the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. 🔥📜
Guo pointed out that those documents carry full legal weight under international law, and have been reaffirmed in major bilateral agreements such as the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. By zeroing in on the San Francisco Treaty, he argued, Takaichi was undermining the political foundation of China-Japan relations and even challenging UN authority and the postwar international order.
He also accused her of stirring up the “theory of undetermined Taiwan status,” a sensitive topic in cross-strait ties that could spark new tensions. 🌊
The Chinese foreign ministry called this approach “a mistake on top of a mistake,” and urged the international community to stay alert. China insisted that Japan needs to reflect, retract the remarks, and show its commitment to its UN obligations through concrete actions.
For young professionals and travelers keeping an eye on Asia, these developments show how history and diplomacy still shape the region’s future. Whether you’re studying international law or planning your next trip, understanding these undercurrents can give you fresh insights into how countries navigate their pasts and presents. 🤝🌏
Reference(s):
China blasts Takaichi for highlighting illegal 'San Francisco Treaty'
cgtn.com
