BJP rallies in Japan, rising tensions and anti-Japan protests erupt in China. This incident follows comments made by Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, during her meeting with Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s recently-elected vice president turned senior advisor to Taiwan’s president, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Takaichi’s remarks regarding Japan’s potential military response to a conflict in the Taiwan Strait have drawn sharp criticism from Beijing.
During her meeting with Lai, Takaichi emphasized the need for Japan to “anticipate a worst-case scenario” concerning the Taiwan Strait. She stressed that a Chinese attack on Taiwan might force Japan to not only aid, but activate its self-defense forces. If the war directly endangers Japan’s survival, military intervention would be necessary. This claim fits hand-in-glove under Japan’s postwar constitution, which forbids military force in most any circumstance. A 2015 law permits collective self-defense under certain conditions.
Chinese officials reacted strongly to Takaichi’s statements. Lin Jian, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, condemned her statements as “wrongful and dangerous.” She warned that these kind of comments only raise tensions in the area. Takaichi’s meeting and subsequent social media posts were all it took for Beijing to engage in some choice condemnation, calling her move “egregious.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Chinese consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, made inflammatory remarks in a now-removed post, stating, “We have no choice but cut off that dirty neck that has been lunged at us without hesitation. Are you ready?” This comment drew condemnation from Japanese officials, including Minoru Kihara, who stated, “We strongly protested and urged that it be taken down immediately,” highlighting the gravity of the situation.
The United States has recently joined this discussion. George Glass, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, vehemently condemned Xue’s statement. He claimed that such statements “endangered” not only Takaichi, but the Japanese public. His comment highlights the world-wide international ramifications of the increasing friction between Japan and China over Taiwan.
In fact, Taiwan is closer—only 100 kilometers separate Taiwan from Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost island. That closeness transforms any potential escalation in the Strait into an essential concern for Japanese national security. Beijing considers Taiwan to be a renegade province. Their plans include not discounting the use of force in “reunification,” as they intend to euphemistically call it.
The growing discord highlights Japan’s ongoing struggle with how to address its security concerns in relation to China’s assertive stance on Taiwan. As US-China tensions simmer, both states must be ever-mindful of this complex geopolitical landscape.