Japan and China Engage in Diplomatic Spat Following Prime Minister’s Taiwan Conflict Remarks
TOKYO – A diplomatic row has erupted between Japan and china after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a conflict involving taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response. The dispute escalated following a series of critical comments from Chinese officials, including a post from Chinese embassy official Li Jian, which Japanese officials have condemned as threatening.
The controversy began after Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister last month, addressed the possibility of japanese involvement in a Taiwan contingency. Minoru Kihara,Japan’s defense minister,told reporters this week that he was “aware of multiple other inappropriate remarks” by Li Jian.
The exchange follows a meeting between Takaichi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Apec summit in South Korea,where both leaders pledged to build “constructive and stable” relations. however, tensions resurfaced when Takaichi met with a senior advisor to Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, on the sidelines of Apec and shared photos of the meeting on social media, prompting accusations of “egregious” behavior from Beijing.
On Monday, Takaichi told MPs she would exercise caution when referring to specific security situations, but stood by her position. Japan has long considered its response to a potential conflict between China and Taiwan, given Taiwan’s proximity to Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost island, located just 100km away.
While Japan’s postwar constitution prohibits the use of force to settle international disputes, a 2015 law - enacted during the premiership of Shinzo Abe – allows for collective self-defense in certain circumstances, potentially including support for US-led military action in the region.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Li Jian’s post was a response to Takaichi’s “wrongful and dangerous” remarks on Taiwan, urging Japan to “reflect on its ancient culpability on the Taiwan issue” and cease sending signals to “taiwan independence separatist forces.”
Taiwan’s presidential office spokesperson Karen kuo issued a statement condemning the Chinese official’s remarks as exceeding “diplomatic etiquette.” US Ambassador to Japan George Glass,in a post on X,described Li Jian’s comments as “threaten[ing]” Takaichi and the Japanese people,stating,”The mask slips – again.”
