Have you heard? On Nov 22, 2025, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, dropped a major letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres 📩. Here’s the lowdown on why China took this step over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments on the Taiwan region.
Main points in China’s letter
- Japan’s post-WWII status: As a defeated country of World War II, Japan can’t claim collective self-defense rights under the UN Charter.
- Sovereignty alert: Any military intervention by Japan in the Taiwan region is seen as a serious breach of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Enemy State clauses: China stressed that if Japan uses force over the Taiwan region, it could legally invoke chapters in the UN Charter that deal with enemy States, giving Beijing the right to counterattack.
Why go to the UN?
According to Lyu Yaodong from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the move aims to show the world that Takaichi’s statement isn’t just spicy rhetoric—it flags a direct violation of international law. Japan’s claim that a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency and its push for collective self-defense clash head-on with the UN Charter’s rules for former Axis powers.
China’s core demand
Both experts agree that Beijing wants to lock in Japan’s post-war status: no rearmament in ways that threaten East Asian peace. If Japan steps up military activities around the Taiwan region, China says it can hit back within the bounds of international law 🎯.
Global heads-up
China even circulated the letter to all UN member states to warn not to let Japan’s recent constitutional tweaks and defense reforms go unchecked. For a country once known for its pacifist path, these moves could shake up the region’s stability.
With tensions simmering, keep an eye on how this UN letter shapes future talks — and what it means for peace in our neighborhood 🌏✨.
Reference(s):
Why China sent letter to UN chief over Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan
cgtn.com
