BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday urged the Japanese government to prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues.

Spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular press briefing that the Japanese side should abide by relevant principles laid down in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement.

The Global Times newspaper recently reported that Taiwanese living in Japan can choose "Taiwan" when filling in the "nationality or region" category of their Japanese residence permits as part of Japan's revision of the permits that went into effect on Monday.

According to the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Japanese government fully understands and respects the Chinese government's position on Taiwan as being an inalienable part of the territory of China.