TOKYO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday criticized current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan once again, stressing the importance of building stable relations between Japan and China, the Mainichi Shimbun reported.

Ishiba stated in a speech in Tokyo that since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972, successive administrations have understood and respected China's position that Taiwan is a part of China, according to the report.

"It is something that must not be changed, and we have proceeded with tremendous caution," he added.

Ishiba reiterated the importance of maintaining smooth diplomatic relations between Japan and China, noting that currently, Japan relies on a wide range of imports from China such as food, rare earths and pharmaceuticals, said the report.

Takaichi claimed at a Diet meeting on Nov. 7 that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, which has drawn strong criticism at home immediately.

During a television program last Sunday, Ishiba criticized Takaichi for straining Japan-China relations by making the wrongful remarks, stating that successive Japanese governments have always managed bilateral relations very carefully and everyone has handled things with truly meticulous care and the current administration should fully understand Japan's long-standing basic position and remain cautious in the implementation of policies in the future. ■