China has further upped the diplomatic ante with Japan by warning its citizens against visiting the island nation. This warning is in direct reaction to the remarks made by Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister. He floated a stronger military response if Taiwan, which China also claims, is attacked.
Taiwan, which China also claims, is only about 100 kilometers from Japan’s southernmost island. Taiwan had been under Japanese colonial rule for decades before the latter’s defeat in World War II, which returned the island to Chinese sovereignty. Despite Taiwan’s de facto independence, Beijing insists that it remains part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over the island.
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) just passed an official resolution overriding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and making one specific Chinese envoy persona non grata. This decision is emblematic of a deepening concern among Japanese decision makers over an increasingly aggressive China’s posture toward Taiwan. The diplomatic row intensified after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s remarks suggested that an armed attack on Taiwan could trigger Japan’s military involvement under its collective self-defense framework.
Sanae Takaichi, the then-minister of Kishida’s cabinet, reassured that this was no joking matter. During a parliamentary session, she stated, “battleships and the use of force, then that could constitute a situation threatening the survival of Japan, any way you slice it.” Her remarks highlight Japan’s role in deterring against and responding to possible Chinese military aggression towards Taiwan.
Here’s how China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to Friday’s White House announcement. They are calling on the general public to stay away from Japan in the meantime. The statement highlighted the ongoing tensions, asserting, “The ministry of foreign affairs and the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan solemnly remind Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Japan in the near future.”
That decision has exacerbated an already fraught relationship between the two nations. A Chinese consul general in Osaka posted an online statement deemed “inappropriate,” which has since been removed, adding fuel to the fire of this diplomatic feud.
Previously, Japanese prime ministers had steered clear of explicitly addressing defense of Taiwan. Rather than take such a risky approach, they’ve decided to take a more prudent approach instead. Yet, the changing geopolitical environment coupled with China’s growing aggression have forced Japan to re-examine its position.
For its part, the United States maintains strategic ambiguity around its military support for Taiwan. This policy further complicates the East Asian security landscape. The stakes have never been higher. Neither Japan nor China are dealing with an easy hand of cards—existing somewhere in between inflammatory history and the current geopolitical realities.