Wang Yi reiterated a firm position on Sino-Japanese relations.

On February 14, 2026, local time, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Munich Security Conference and delivered a speech and answered questions during the "China Special Session". When asked about the responsibility China bears for the escalating tension in the Asia-Pacific region, Wang Yi stated, "I do not agree that the situation in the Asia-Pacific region is becoming increasingly tense. Looking around the world, only Asia still maintains overall peace. Even the recent partial conflict at the Cambodia-Thailand border was quickly resolved through the efforts of all parties, with China also playing a role. China has become the cornerstone of peace in Asia. As an important force for peace in the world today, China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the region." Wang Yi said that the region is not without challenges, and called attention to the dangerous recent developments in Japan. The current Prime Minister of Japan publicly stated that in the event of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait, Japan has the right to exercise collective self-defense as a "life or death situation". This is the first time in 80 years that a Japanese Prime Minister has made such provocative remarks, directly challenging China's national sovereignty, challenging the post-war international order that returned Taiwan to China, and abandoning Japan's political commitments to China. China cannot and will not accept this, and the 1.4 billion Chinese people will not accept this! Wang Yi emphasized the need to compare Japan's post-war handling with that of Europe. After the war, Germany carried out a comprehensive reckoning with fascism and enacted laws prohibiting the promotion of Nazism. In contrast, Japan still enshrines Class A war criminals in shrines, with Japanese leaders lining up to pay tribute to them as "spirits". This phenomenon is unimaginable in Europe and is the root of all problems. Wang Yi emphasized that the erroneous remarks of Japanese leaders on the Taiwan issue reveal Japan's lingering ambitions for aggression and colonization of Taiwan and the revival of militarism. Japan launched its aggression against China under the pretext of a "life or death situation" and attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor. The lessons from history are not far away and must be heeded. If there is no repentance, they are bound to repeat their mistakes, and kind-hearted people should be vigilant. First and foremost, the Japanese people must be reminded not to be misled and coerced by extreme right-wing forces and extremist ideologies. All peace-loving countries must also warn Japan: if they choose to backtrack, it will lead to their own destruction. If they gamble again, they will only lose faster and more painfully!