Japan owes an explanation to China and the international community as to why it is unwilling to clearly state the commitments it has made in the past and its legal obligations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday.

日本外交部发言人林剑周四表示，日本应向中国和国际社会解释，为何其不愿明确阐述过去作出的承诺及其法律义务。

Lin made the remark at a daily news conference in Beijing, when asked about the comments Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made on Wednesday in Japan's Upper House about the China-Japan Joint Statement of 1972.
林剑在北京举行的例行记者会上作出上述表态。当时他被问及日本首相高市早苗周三在日本参议院就《1972年中日联合声明》发表的言论。

As a landmark political document underpinning China-Japan ties, the statement's Article 3 states that "the Government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China", and "the Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand".
作为奠定中日关系基础的标志性政治文件，该声明第三条明确指出：“中华人民共和国政府重申，台湾是中华人民共和国领土不可分割的一部分”，并称“日本国政府充分理解并尊重这一立场”。

While some Japanese media outlets claimed that Takaichi specifically cited this stand on Wednesday, Lin clarified on Thursday and said the reports have been proved to be inaccurate as Beijing has verified what exactly Takaichi said.
尽管一些日本媒体声称高市早苗在周三具体引用了这一立场，但林剑周四澄清称，经中方核实，这些报道已被证明不准确。

Takaichi merely said that "the Japanese government's basic position regarding Taiwan remains as stated in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, and there has been no change to this position", and nothing more, Lin said.
林剑表示，高市早苗只说了“日本政府在台湾问题上的基本立场与《1972年中日联合声明》中所述一致，并未发生变化”，除此之外并无更多表述。

Based on her remarks on Wednesday, Lin asked whether Takaichi "can accurately and fully articulate that position".
基于高市早苗的表态，林剑质问其“是否能够准确、完整地阐述该立场”。

"Why is the Japanese side unwilling to clearly state the commitments it has made and its legal obligations? What is the logic and motive driving this attitude? The Japanese side owes China and the international community an explanation," he said.
他说：“为什么日方不愿明确说明其所作承诺及法律义务？其背后的逻辑和动机是什么？日方必须向中国和国际社会作出解释。”

Liu Jiangyong, a professor of Japanese studies at Tsinghua University, said the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship — signed by the two countries in 1978 and approved by their highest legislative bodies — is a legal document that recognizes the principles and contents of the 1972 statement, and the treaty makes it clear that the statement underpins peaceful, friendly bilateral relations.
清华大学日本研究专家刘江永教授表示，《中日和平友好条约》于1978年由两国签署并经各自最高立法机构批准，是一份确认1972年声明原则与内容的法律文件，该条约明确规定该声明是两国和平友好关系的基础。

"As Article 98 of Japan's Constitution says 'the treaties concluded by Japan and established laws of nations shall be faithfully observed', it is the obligation of the Japanese government and Japanese lawmakers to faithfully abide by the contents of the 1972 statement and 1978 treaty," he added.
他补充说：“日本宪法第98条规定‘日本缔结的条约及国际法规则必须被忠实遵守’，因此日本政府和国会议员有义务严格遵守1972年声明和1978年条约的内容。”

On Nov 7, Takaichi made provocative comments at a parliamentary debate, talking of Tokyo's possible military intervention in Taiwan.
11月7日，高市早苗在国会辩论中发表挑衅性言论，提及东京可能对台湾进行军事干预。

Lin, the spokesman, said that China's stance is very clear.
林剑表示，中方立场非常明确。

"We urge the Japanese side to reflect on and correct its wrongdoing, and retract Prime Minister Takaichi's erroneous remarks," Lin said. "This is an issue of principle. The facts and Japan's commitments are written down in black and white in historical records."
他表示：“我们敦促日方反思并纠正错误言行，撤回高市首相的错误言论。这是原则问题。事实和日本的承诺都白纸黑字写在历史文献里。”

JointStatement

联合声明

inalienable

/ɪnˈeɪliənəbl/

不可分割的

underpin

/ˌʌndəˈpɪn/

奠定基础/支撑

provocative comments

挑衅性言论

in black and white

白纸黑字