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Japan was engaged in a war of words with China on Monday after the Prime Minister Sanae TakaichiThere has been talk of a Chinese attack on taiwan For Japan, the need to use force could constitute an “existential threat”.
Takaichi, who is considered pro-Taipei, said on Friday that Chinese use of force around Taiwan would be considered an “existential threat.”
His remarks were sharply criticized Beijing Over the weekend.
“We have no choice but to bite the filthy neck that has been thrown at us without hesitation. Are you ready?” Chinese Consul General Zhu Jian said in a message posted on Instagram, which was later removed. Zou also criticized previous comments made by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Japanese lawmakers that “Taiwan emergency is Japan emergency” as “blatant interference in Chinese internal affairs and a violation of sovereignty” that need to be retracted and apologized.
On Monday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Tokyo had protested to Beijing over Zou’s X message.
Kihara said, “Although the intention of (Zoo’s) post is not entirely clear, we have to say that the comment… was extremely inappropriate.” Japan’s Foreign Ministry has since lodged a “strong protest” and demanded the post be removed. Kihara urged China to provide an explanation.
The dispute shows that Japan-China relations may not be smooth under Takaichi, despite a cordial meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea during the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The new Japanese leader has pledged to strengthen the military and met with Taiwan’s representative at the summit the day after meeting Xi, angering China.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Zou’s post was personal, “directed at false and dangerous comments that attempt to isolate Taiwan from China’s territory and advocate military intervention in the Taiwan Strait.”
He blamed some Japanese politicians and the media for hyping the issue to confuse public perception and divert attention.
China has lodged “serious complaints and protests” with Japan over Takachi’s comments, Lin said.
“Is Japan attempting to challenge China’s core interests and hinder the great objective of China’s reunification?” He said. “Where does Japan want to take China-Japan relations?”.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not refrained from using force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
The latest diplomatic spat began on Friday when Takachi was asked in parliament about scenarios that could pose a threat to Japan.
Ultraconservative Takaichi, who is the country’s first female prime minister, cited the Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan and any military action to prevent the arrival of US troops.
He said, “If it involves the use of warships and military actions, it could become an existential threat in every way” in which Japan could use force for defense.
His response was seen as deviating from the comments of his predecessors and sparked a controversy that led him to later backtrack and pledge that his comments were within the previous official line.
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Moritsugu reported from Beijing.