China summoned Japan’s ambassador on Nov. 14 over remarks by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, following her statement last week in Parliament that armed attacks on Taiwan could justify Japan sending troops under “collective self-defense.” Takaichi said that if an emergency in Taiwan involved battleships or force, it could threaten Japan’s survival.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, responded firmly. Vice-Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi, delivering “serious demarches” over Takaichi’s “erroneous remarks” and warning that any interference in China’s unification would be met with a hard response. China’s Foreign Ministry demanded Japan retract the statements, while Takaichi refused, saying her comments align with Tokyo’s prior stance but she would avoid explicitly citing specific scenarios in the future.
Takaichi, known for her pro-Taiwan stance and visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, supports strengthening security ties with the self-governing island. Japan’s 2015 security legislation allows collective self-defense if Japan’s survival is at stake.
The tension escalated after Chinese consul-general in Osaka, Xue Jian, posted a now-deleted threat in response to Takaichi’s remarks, prompting Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to call it “highly inappropriate” and urge China to prevent it from harming bilateral relations.
