Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian’s Regular Press Conference on November 14, 2025

As agreed between China and Germany, the fourth China-Germany High-Level Financial Dialogue will be held in Beijing on November 17. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council and the Chinese lead person of the Dialogue He Lifeng will co-chair the Dialogue with Vice Chancellor, Federal Minister of Finance and the German lead person of the Dialogue Lars Klingbeil.

CCTV: It's reported that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Diet this week avoided stating whether her administration adheres to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. There are also reports saying that when asked about the possibility of acquiring nuclear submarines, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan has not ruled out any options. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi publicly called for Tokyo to consider adding nuclear-powered submarines to its fleet. It's also said that the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party began talks on Thursday on the amendment of Article 9 of the Constitution (Japan forever renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes) and on introducing an emergency clause. What's China's comment on the recent military and security developments in Japan?

Lin Jian: China is seriously concerned over Japan's military and security moves recently. While Japan claims to be a peace-loving country and advocates a world free of nuclear weapons, Sanae Takaichi's authorities have been making ambiguous statements about the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and implying the possibility of quitting the principles. Japanese senior officials even claimed that Japan has not ruled out the possibility of possessing nuclear submarines. These fully reveal that Japan is making a major negative policy shift, which sends a dangerous signal to the international community.

During World War II, Japanese militarists' war of aggression and brutal crimes against humanity inflicted untold suffering on the region and beyond. In recent years, Japan has been drastically readjusting its security policy, increasing defense spending year after year, relaxing restrictions on arms export, seeking to develop offensive weapons, and going further down the wrong path of military buildup. Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made provocative remarks on Taiwan which imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. Owing to these moves by Japan, its neighboring countries in Asia and the international community have to strongly call into question and worry about: Has Japan truly made a clean break with militarism? Is Japan sincerely committed to the exclusively defense-oriented policy and the Three Non-Nuclear Principles? Will Japan still act on its commitment to peaceful development?

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. It is also the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan. We urge Japan to repent for its history of aggression, stick to the path of peaceful development, stop finding excuses for its military buildup, and take concrete actions to earn the trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community.

Reuters: Japanese broadcaster NTV reported today the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo had instructed its staff to avoid going out. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment?

Lin Jian: As I said before, it is irresponsible for some Japanese politicians and media to distort the issue in an attempt to mislead the public and divert attention. There have been extreme and threatening remarks targeting Chinese diplomats from Japanese right-wing provocateurs and internet users. China is highly concerned about this and asks the Japanese side to treat this matter seriously, investigate into it and contain such remarks. We once again urge Japan to face up to the root cause of the issue, correct and retract the unjustified remarks at once, and stop confusing right and wrong, diverting attention and blaming China.

Global Times: It's reported that according to the Pentagon, U.S. Department of State approved the sale to Taiwan of non-standard components and repair support for F-16, C-130, and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft for an estimated total cost of US$330 million, marking the first such transaction in President Donald Trump's second term. What's China's comment?

Lin Jian: The U.S.'s arms sale to China's Taiwan region grossly violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué of 1982, infringes on China's sovereignty and security interests, contravenes international law, and sends a gravely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China deplores and opposes that.

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and is the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations. China urges the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, act on its leaders' commitment on Taiwan-related issues, stop abetting and aiding separatist forces' attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" through military buildup, and take concrete actions in the interests of China-U.S. relations and cross-Strait peace and stability. China will do what is necessary to firmly defend China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

AFP: EU states on Thursday agreed to remove a bloc-wide duty exemption on low-value orders. So this will hit retail giants like Temu and Shein and it's a move seen as helping to tackle the flood of cheap Chinese imports into the EU. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment on this?

Lin Jian: For anything specific, I'd refer you to competent authorities. Let me stress that we hope the EU will abide by the principles of market economy and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from China and other countries.

Shenzhen TV: It was reported that the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU on November 12 released the Report on the Development of Chinese Enterprises in the EU 2025/2026, which shows that the overall rating of the EU business environment among Chinese companies declined for the sixth consecutive year. Among the respondents, 81 percent cited greater uncertainty in the business environment, 90 percent said the EU's "de-risking" and broader economic security agenda had negatively affected operations and confidence in the market, and over 40 percent said they had faced differential treatment linked to their Chinese identity. "Uncertainty" has become the biggest obstruction against Chinese businesses' operations in the EU. What is China's comment on this?

Lin Jian: We noted the report. We also noted that Chinese businesses are concerned about the continued pressure on their operations in Europe.

In recent years, the EU has been advocating economic competition with China and promoting "de-risking" from China. Under the pretext of upholding "economic security" and "fair competition," it has rolled out a number of protectionist measures, set restrictions on semiconductor, 5G and electric vehicles-areas where China and the EU could have engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation, and taken discriminatory and restrictive measures against Chinese businesses, which disrupted the sound and steady operation of the global industrial and supply chains. These moves did no good to improving the EU's industrial competitiveness, and sent a negative message of retrogression in its market openness and affected Chinese businesses' confidence in investing in the EU, which will harm the EU's own interests in the end.

Over the years, Chinese businesses have continued to explore the EU market and actively taken up corporate responsibilities, making positive contribution to the EU's economic growth, green transition, employment and people's wellbeing. The recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee have drawn a blueprint for China's economic development in the next five years. China's continued modernization drive and greater high-standard opening up will bring more opportunities for China-EU cooperation. Amid the complex and volatile international situation, sluggish world economic growth and rising trade protectionism, it is all the more important that China and the EU engage in dialogue and cooperation, uphold free trade and fair competition, and resolve differences and frictions properly through dialogue and consultation. We hope the EU will honor its commitment on market openness and uphold the principle of fair competition, listen to and earnestly address the reasonable suggestions and legitimate appeals of Chinese businesses, and provide a fair and predictable environment for Chinese businesses to invest and operate in the EU. We also welcome the EU to grasp the important opportunities arising from China's implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan to increase trade and investment and achieve common development.

Nippon TV: Japanese ambassador in Beijing was summoned last night by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which I think is quite a rare case in recent years, calling the top leader of the embassy. Could you tell us the reason why this time China insisted on face-to-face protests against Japanese ambassador?

Lin Jian: Last night, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned Japanese ambassador to China. China released a readout on that. The root cause lies in Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's extremely wrongful, dangerous and provocative remarks on Taiwan and her refusal to change course and retract what she had said. That grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, violates international law and the basic norms of international relations, damages the post-WWII international order, contravenes the one-China principle and the guiding principles set forth in the four China-Japan political documents, disrupts the political foundations of China-Japan relations, and hurts the Chinese people's sentiments. We also noted that many politicians and people with vision in Japan raised caution and criticism.

China cherishes peace and values good faith. That said, when it comes to China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and any other issues concerning China's core interests, no one shall ever expect any compromise or concession from China. No one shall have the illusion that China will swallow the bitter fruit that undermines its interests. No one shall seek to challenge the bottom line of the Chinese people, for whoever try to do so will be dealt a head-on blow and find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people. For anyone who dare to hold back China's reunification: Failure will be their fate.

Bloomberg: Morgan Stanley is currently facing scrutiny from the U.S. House China Committee regarding the underwriting of an IPO for a Chinese mining company Zijin Gold, which took place in September. The issue is whether the transaction may have helped Zijin's parent company, which is on the U.S. blacklist for allegedly violating restrictions on using forced labor in Xinjiang. Does the Chinese Foreign Ministry have any comment on this scrutiny of Morgan Stanley related to the mining company and its IPO?

Lin Jian: I'm not familiar with the commercial activities that you mentioned. The so-called allegation of "forced labor" in Xinjiang is nothing but a lie propagated by anti-China forces. Let me say that the U.S. agency which keeps vilifying China with baseless accusations has again and again peddled the narrative that has been proven false by facts and groundlessly suppressed Chinese companies. This will only further expose the agency's zero credibility and its intention of political manipulation and end up hurting the U.S.'s own interests and reputation.   

Bloomberg: AI company Anthropic has disrupted a highly sophisticated AI-led espionage campaign against it. That's according to the company. It says that the culprit was a Chinese state-sponsored group. It says that with a high degree of confidence. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this allegation from Anthropic regarding the AI-led espionage that involves or appears to have involved Chinese state-sponsored groups?

Lin Jian: I'm not familiar with the specifics you mentioned. Regarding this kind of groundless accusations that have no evidence, we have made clear our position on multiple occasions. China opposes hacking activities and fights such activities in accordance with the law. That said, we firmly reject vilification and smears under the pretext of cybersecurity.