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Less than a month into his term, JapanTension has arisen with the conservative leader of China by suggesting Chinese action against taiwan Could prompt Japanese military response.
China objects to the involvement of other countries in Taiwan, especially United States of AmericaWhich is the main supplier of arms to the self-ruled island. Beijing claims it as its own and says it should come under its control. It said this was a domestic issue and “a red line” that others should not cross.
Takaichi went further than previous Japanese statements
Speaking to a parliamentary committee, the Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Said on 7 November that a Chinese naval blockade or other action against Taiwan could be the basis for a Japanese military response.
His comments were more forceful than those of his predecessors. Previous prime ministers have expressed concern about China’s threat to Taiwan but have not said publicly how Japan would respond.
Takaichi later refused to withdraw his comments but told the same parliamentary committee three days later that he would avoid talking about specific scenarios in the future.
Japan’s new leaders are old supporters of Taiwan. She sees China as a growing threat and has ordered Japan to accelerate plans to boost military spending.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Friday that Japan’s position on Taiwan has not changed.
China responded with a strong warning
Takaichi’s comments caused an uproar in China, with the Foreign and Defense Ministries, the Taiwan Affairs Office and state media all criticized.
Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization, a think tank in Beijing, said his comments came as a surprise because tensions over Taiwan had not been particularly high.
“We cannot allow the Prime Minister to speak so openly in Parliament,” he said.
China’s Consul General in Osaka was one of the first to speak out, saying in a now-deleted social media post that China had no choice but to cut off the intruding “dirty necks.” Motegi called the post “grossly inappropriate”.
China’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned Japan’s ambassador and warned against any interference in Taiwan. The following day, Japan’s Foreign Ministry summoned China’s ambassador to Tokyo to complain about the social media post.
Beijing is increasing its power
On Friday night, China targeted Japan’s tourism economy. It issued a notification advising against travel to Japan. Nearly 7.5 million Chinese tourists arrived in the first nine months of this year, the largest number from any country and almost a quarter of the total.
China’s education ministry warned students on Sunday about recent crimes against Chinese in Japan, though it did not advise them against going there.
Also on Sunday, China’s coast guard announced it was patrolling the waters around a group of uninhabited islands claimed by both countries.
A bigger concern for Japan would be if China restricted exports of rare earth magnets, critical components in auto manufacturing and other industries. There was no immediate indication that China was considering it.
Japanese officials are trying to calm the waters. Motegi said he planned to ask China to respond “appropriately” to prevent any major impact on relations.
The US-Japan alliance is visible in the background.
Japan’s situation is complicated because of its post-World War II constitution, which prohibits the use of force except in defense of its territory – the military is called the Self-Defense Force.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe succeeded in expanding the military’s mandate in 2015 by securing parliamentary approval of a law that allows Japan to come to the aid of an ally – possibly the US – in a conflict that is determined to be an existential threat to Japan.
Takaichi, who emerged into politics as Abe’s disciple, said a Chinese move against Taiwan could qualify as a threat, sparking an upcoming firestorm.
Analysts say another potential threat would be a conflict with North Korea that would draw the US. Japan has not previously specified what an existential threat would constitute under the provision, called collective self-defense.
Now, Tokyo does not want to retract Takachi’s comments, as it could limit its options in the Taiwan crisis. Backpedaling could also damage the new prime minister’s high public support ratings and his image as a hawk on China.
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Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.