ANKARA

China on Thursday reiterated its demand that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retract her remarks on Taiwan, state media reported.

"China's attitude is clear. China urges the Japanese side to genuinely reflect and correct its mistakes and to retract Takaichi's erroneous remarks," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.

Lin was reacting to reports that Takaichi on Wednesday cited the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement at parliament, saying that she "understands and respects" the Chinese government's position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the Beijing-based daily Global Times reported.

"In the face of China's repeated questions in recent days as well as criticism from within Japan and from the international community, Takaichi still attempts to brush things off by merely saying that Japan's position 'has not changed,'" Lin said.

"China absolutely won't accept this," he added.

Beijing’s demand came after Takaichi last month said that any Chinese military move against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” allowing Japan to “exercise its right to collective self-defense.”

Later, Takaichi, who was elected Japan’s first female premier in October, “denied her intention” to retract her statement, telling lawmakers she spoke “under the assumption of a worst-case scenario.”

"Why is the Japanese side deliberately refusing to spell out its existing commitments and legal obligations? What is the logic and intention behind this?" Lin went on to say.

"Japan also needs to give an explanation to China and to the international community," he maintained.

*Writing by Aamir Latif