China Accuses Japan’s New PM of ‘Crossing a Red Line’ Over Taiwan Intervention Remarks
JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH โคAFRICA -โ China has sharply criticized โฃJapan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following herโฃ commentsโ regarding potential Japanese military intervention inโ a conflict over Taiwan,accusing โher โคof “crossing a red line.” Theโ rebuke came during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where both leaders โคwere present.
Takaichi stated, “We areโ not closing the door. But it’s important for Japan to state clearly what needs to be said,” regarding a response to a potential Chinese attack onโค Taiwan. This stance marks a departure from โpreviousโ Japanese administrations, โwhich have voiced concernsโ about China’s โคthreats to Taiwan but stopped โฃshortโฃ of explicitly โคoutlining a military response.
Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi responded with a letter to the United Nations, asserting china “must resolutely hit back” to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He warned that if Japan “persists in its wrong course,” all nations have the right to “re-examine Japan’s past crimes” and “resolutely prevent the resurgence of Japaneseโค militarism.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry also condemned Wang’s letter, stating it “contains rude and unreasonable content” andโ “maliciously distorts historical facts,” further adding it violates Articleโ 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force.
Takaichi, a known Beijing hawk,โฃ has not yet spoken withโ Chinese Premier Liโ Qiang,โฃ despite both being at theโฃ Johannesburg meeting.
The escalating rhetoric underscores the growing tensions between China and Japan, especially concerning Taiwan, which China views โas aโ renegade province. Japanโ is โa key ally of the United States,which has long maintained a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding its response to a potential Chinese invasionโ of Taiwan.China remains Japan’s largest export market after the United States.
