China makes unusual criticism of Japan's claim of sovereignty over Takeshima - South Korean media

The Chinese government has taken the unusual step of criticizing Japan's claim of sovereignty over the Takeshima Islands. Following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent response to questions about a Taiwan emergency, the Chinese government appears to be stepping up its criticism of Japan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on the 17th, "The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to Tokyo on the 14th stating that the Japanese government was promoting unjustified claims regarding sovereignty over Takeshima (known in Korea as Dokdo).
In response to a question from Chinese state media asking, "What is China's response to this?", he replied, "Many of Japan's recent malicious words and actions have been directed at neighboring countries.
"It is causing alarm, dissatisfaction and protests," Mao said. "Japan will seriously reflect on its history of aggression, adhere to the path of peace, and take concrete actions to build a strong relationship with its Asian neighbors."
The reason China made the unusual move to mention Takeshima is that Japan-China relations have been cooling rapidly since Prime Minister Takaichi's recent remarks about Taiwan.
The last time the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the Takeshima issue was in February 2014, when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in office. The spokesperson also stated, "No matter which political party or person in Japan comes to power, Japan will
"This government must adhere to and abide by its commitments regarding the Taiwan issue," he said, adding, "Japan must adopt a responsible attitude toward history and bilateral relations, stop excessive behavior and playing with fire, and correct its erroneous words and actions."
"We urge the United States to withdraw its statement and demonstrate its commitment to China through concrete actions," he added. "Prime Minister Takaichi's provocative remarks regarding Taiwan have seriously damaged the political foundation of Japan-China relations and have upset the public mood in both countries.
"The situation has worsened," he said, adding, "As for the results of the recent Japan-China joint opinion poll, significant changes have already occurred in the environment and conditions, and it is necessary to reconsider their realism and the timing of their release."