Tensions flared between Japan and China on Monday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose an “existential threat” to Japan, remarks that prompted an aggressive response from a Chinese diplomat and a formal protest from Tokyo.
Tokyo protests after Chinese diplomat’s fiery post
Japan and China found themselves in a fresh diplomatic clash after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments suggesting that any Chinese military action around Taiwan could trigger Japan’s right to self-defence under its security laws.
The controversy escalated when Chinese Consul General Xue Jian posted a fiery message on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has been lunged at us without hesitation. Are you ready?” The post, which was later deleted, drew strong condemnation from Tokyo.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan had lodged a “strong protest” with Beijing and demanded an explanation. “While the intent of the post is not entirely clear, we must say the comment was extremely inappropriate,” Kihara told reporters.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry confirmed that it has asked China to ensure such statements are not repeated.
Diplomatic chill amid regional tensions
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian downplayed Xue’s remarks, calling them “personal” but doubled down on China’s stance, saying some Japanese politicians were “hyping the Taiwan issue” and attempting to “interfere in China’s internal affairs.”
Lin accused Tokyo of “confusing public perception and obstructing China’s reunification,” adding that Beijing had lodged “solemn complaints” over Takaichi’s comments, according to an AP report.
Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister and a known supporter of closer ties with Taiwan, had earlier told parliament that a Chinese naval blockade or military action in the Taiwan Strait could become a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, allowing the use of force in self-defence.
The comments marked a sharper tone compared to her predecessors and came just days after Takaichi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit in South Korea. Her subsequent meeting with Taiwan’s envoy further irked Beijing.
While Takaichi later clarified that her remarks were consistent with Japan’s existing security policy, the exchange underscores the fragile state of China–Japan relations amid growing tensions over Taiwan and regional security.
