China expressed its strong indignation at the "wanton remarks" made in Taiwan by Governor of Metropolitan Tokyo Ishihara Shintaro, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi said on November 15.

Asked to comment on the Ishihara's so-called "visit of condolence" to Taiwan, Sun said that the Japanese official's wanton reference to Taiwan as "a state" has again exposed his anti- China nature and ulterior motives of undermining China's reunification cause.

The actions of Ishihara, as governor of Japan's capital, have set a bad precedent for the contacts between Japan and Taiwan, Sun said.

We demand the Japanese government earnestly abide by its solemn commitment to the Chinese side concerning the Taiwan issue in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship and last year's Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, Sun said.

The Japanese government should take immediate and effective measures to diffuse the damage done to Sino-Japanese relations resulting from Ishihara's remarks and prevent the recurrence of further thoughtless comments, the spokesman said.