japanese Prime Minister receives Beheading Threat From Chinese Diplomat Following Taiwan Conflict Remarks
TOKYO – Japan’s goverment has lodged a formal complaint after a Chinese diplomat threatened Prime minister Sanae Takaichi with beheading, according to statements made Monday by japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara. Teh threat stemmed from a now-deleted online post linked to an article about Takaichi’s recent comments regarding the potential impact of a military escalation in the Taiwan conflict on Japan’s security.
Takaichi stated Friday in the Japanese Parliament that a military escalation involving China, such as the deployment of warships, could threaten Japan’s existence. She further indicated she would not rule out the use of Japanese troops in a “worst case scenario,” citing the country’s right to “collective self-defense.”
Kihara described the consul general’s reaction as “extremely inappropriate” adn confirmed Tokyo demanded the post’s immediate removal and issued a “decisive” protest. Takaichi affirmed in parliament she stands by her initial statements but will refrain from detailing specific scenarios in the future.
China maintains that Taiwan is a breakaway province and asserts its right to reunification, potentially through military force. At a press conference Monday, Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated Taiwan is an “inseparable part of Chinese territory” and urged Japan to acknowledge its “historical guilt” in the conflict and avoid sending “wrong signals” to Taiwanese independence supporters.
Sanae Takaichi assumed office as Prime Minister in mid-October, becoming Japan’s first female leader.