Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference on December 19, 2025

Global Times: Foreign media reported that the U.S.'s large-scale arms sales to Taiwan announced yesterday were to "assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities, commensurate with the threat it faces." What is China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: We've stated China's serious position on this issue yesterday. The U.S.'s massive arms sales to China's Taiwan region grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, undermine China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, disrupt peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and send a seriously wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and others. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has immediately lodged serious protests with the U.S. side.

Let me stress that China's core interests must not be eroded, the Taiwan question must not be interfered in, and China's bottom line must not be crossed. "Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Any move of arming Taiwan will face serious consequences. The real threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the separatist activities of the Lai Ching-te authorities and external interference. The so-called "assistance in response to threat" to Taiwan will only embolden "Taiwan independence" separatists, put the people in Taiwan on a "powder keg," push the Taiwan Strait towards danger, and inevitably increase the risk of China-U.S. conflict and confrontation.

No one or force should underestimate the strong will and capability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No matter how many advanced weapons are sold to Taiwan, this will not reverse the inevitability towards China's reunification. China will take all measures necessary to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, act on the serious commitments made by U.S. leaders, stop the dangerous move of arming Taiwan, stop disrupting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and stop sending wrong messages to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

AFP: TikTok said yesterday it has signed a joint venture deal with investors that would allow the company to maintain operations in the United States and avoid a ban due to its Chinese ownership. This is according to multiple U.S. media reports. Does the Chinese government approve of this deal and does the Foreign Ministry have comment?

Guo Jiakun: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. China's position on TikTok is consistent and clear.

Reuters: China has sent a special envoy to Cambodia and Thailand as a mediator. Has the discovery of Chinese-made weapons in Cambodia by Thailand complicated this shuttle diplomacy and has China's position in the peace mediation process been undermined by the discovery?

Guo Jiakun: We've previously made a response to that. Thailand also made a clarification.

As a close neighbor and friend of Cambodia and Thailand, China closely follows the border situation between the two countries. We do not want to see the fighting and are deeply saddened by the civilian casualties on both sides caused by the conflict. China has been actively shuttling between the two sides to promote peace in light of their will and creating conditions and providing platforms for their dialogue. Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday talked to Cambodian foreign minister and Thai foreign minister over the phone, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs has embarked on another shuttle-diplomacy trip to Cambodia and Thailand in an effort to bridge the two sides to realize a ceasefire and rebuild peace at an early date. We call on the two sides to bear in mind peace and stability along the border as well as the interests of the two peoples, and stop the fighting at an early date. China will continue to do what it can to promote talks for peace, bridge the two sides, and play a constructive role through its own way to rebuild mutual trust between Cambodia and Thailand.

CCTV: On December 19, Beijing time, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026" was signed into law which contains negative content on China. What is China's comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: The "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026" plays up the "China threat" narrative, interferes in China's domestic affairs, and undermines China's sovereignty, security and development interests. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests with the U.S. side.

China urges the U.S. to view China's development and China-U.S. relations in an objective and rational way, work with China in the same direction, jointly deliver on the important common understandings reached by the two presidents in Busan, not implement the negative articles concerning China in the Act, and undo the negative influence. If the U.S. keeps refusing to change course, China will be firmly resolved in taking strong measures to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Bloomberg: A senior government official who advises Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi on security expressed a personal opinion that Japan should have nuclear weapons, according to local media reports. We're wondering if the Foreign Ministry has any comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China is closely following the report. If that's true, it will be a serious issue that exposes the dangerous attempts by some in Japan to breach international law and possess nuclear weapons. China and the rest of the international community must stay on high alert and express grave concern.

For some time, we've been witnessing erroneous remarks and moves from the Japanese side on military and security issues, who revamped security and defense policies, removed the ban on exercising the right to collective self-defense, and attempted to once again acquire nuclear weapons from allies through strengthening cooperation on "extended deterrence," seeking "nuclear sharing," revising the three non-nuclear principles and other means. Right-wing conservative forces in Japan are floating the idea of owning nuclear weapons-another case in point of their inflated ambition to revive militarism, break free from international order and speed up re-militarization. 

Trying to picture itself as the advocate of a world free of nuclear weapons, Japan has claimed in its own narrative to be the "victim" of nuclear weapons in WWII. However, in fact the Japanese side has never completely reflected on the wars of aggression it has waged, and has become the source of instability that challenges the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and undermines the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The international community must be clear-eyed about Japan's hypocritical stance on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Recently, political parties, political figures and civil groups and agencies in Japan have called for the country's commitment to the three non-nuclear principles, in order to prevent the tragedy of war from repeating itself. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The Japanese side must deeply reflect on its historical crimes, abide by international law and Japan's Constitution, stop finding excuses to expand military buildup, and stop testing the bottom line and red line of international justice on the issue of owning nuclear weapons.

PTI: Reports yesterday said that China started issuing the new licenses for the rare earth metals previously halted. This issue figured very prominently in the recent consultation talks between the foreign ministry officials of both countries. Is China now resuming or has resumed the rare earth exports to India, considering that now you started issuing licenses?

Guo Jiakun: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. We'd like to stress that given the dual use nature of medium and heavy rare earth and related items, exercising export control on the items is in line with international practice and reflects China's consistent position of firmly upholding world peace and regional stability and actively participating in international non-proliferation effort. China's export control on rare earth-related items in accordance with laws and regulations does not target any specific country. As long as the export is for civilian use and complies with regulations, the Chinese government will approve the application in a timely manner. China stands ready to step up dialogue and cooperation with relevant countries and regions to jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable.

People's Daily: The World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO recently released the first conservation document on the Sado Island Gold Mines submitted by Japan, which failed to provide the historical context of forced labor from the Korean Peninsula. Japan said it "has been engaging in close dialogue with the ROK." The ROK side urged the Japanese side to "faithfully implement the WHC's decision, its own commitments and the agreements reached between the governments of Korea and Japan," and said that the ROK will "continue to engage in dialogue with the Japanese government." What's China's comment?

Guo Jiakun: The forced recruitment and enslavement of laborers from China, the Korean Peninsula and other Asian countries is a serious crime committed by Japanese militarism during its foreign aggression and colonial rule. The Japanese side needs to face up to and repent for history. Issues left over from history must be properly handled with an honest and responsible attitude, and only with concrete actions can Japan earn trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community.

PTI: Reports say that in the last few days, several media offices have been attacked and the situation in Bangladesh is increasingly getting worse ahead of the February elections. Does China have any comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China noted that Bangladesh has announced it will hold parliamentary elections on February 12, 2026. China wishes Bangladesh safe, stable and smooth elections and believes that various sectors of Bangladesh will properly advance important political agendas and uphold national solidarity and stability.

Nippon TV: Part of senators of the United States have submitted a resolution which is expressing support for Japan and on the other hand criticizing China's economic and military pressure towards Japan. Does the Ministry have any reaction to this?

Guo Jiakun: To safeguard the outcomes of WWII victory and defend the post-war international order is the common responsibility of the international community, including China and the U.S. Justice lies in everyone's heart. It needs to be stressed that after Prime Minister Takaichi made the erroneous remarks, there has been indignation from the Chinese people as well as objective and rational opposition and criticism from Japan, U.S. strategists and international commentators. What the Japanese side should do is to listen to these calls and do soul-searching rather than persuade other countries into believing their groundless explanations and shift the responsibility and seek endorsement. We once again urge the Japanese side to sincerely repent for and correct its wrongdoings, retract Prime Minister Takaichi's erroneous remarks as it should, fully and accurately articulate its political commitments made on the Taiwan question in the four political documents between China and Japan, and fulfill its obligations as a defeated country stipulated in documents with full effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. 

Beijing Daily: We noted that recently, Japanese politicians, academics, non-governmental organizations and civil groups criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan and a string of dangerous signals of military buildup sent by the Japanese government. They called on the government to retract Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks. What's your comment?

Guo Jiakun: We noted these voices. Prime Minister Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan made on November 7 and Japan's recent moves to remilitarize have been met with vigilance and opposition from the neighboring countries. More and more Japanese political dignitaries and people expressed their rejection. A seasoned Diet member said that in history, there have been innumerable examples of politicians stoking external crisis which triggered people's indignation and evolved into real survival-threatening situation. As a result, people paid a huge price. Recently, when questioning Prime Minister Takaichi at the Diet, a member stressed that children should never be sent to the battlefield or get involved in warfare. Takakage Fujita, the secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, said that recent remarks by Takaichi point Japan towards a dangerous direction of the pre-emptive use of military force, and Japan must not permit any political faction to steer the nation back towards the path of war. According to some Japanese media, it's difficult to guarantee that what Prime Minister Takaichi did will not put Japan on a course of fascism once chosen by militarists.

Eighty years ago, the Japanese people, offered an empty promise of victory in the war, ended up in a complete and costly failure. The history and reality show that a beaten path to militarism will only lead a country astray to a dead end. To make a clean break with militarism and embrace the path of peaceful development is an important prerequisite for Japan to be trusted and understood by the international community, especially its Asian neighbors, and is the right choice that meets the fundamental interests of the Japanese people.