Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has ignited a diplomatic firestorm with China by suggesting that Japan could deploy its self-defence forces if China attacks Taiwan, leading to a sharp exchange of protests and a controversial remark from a Chinese diplomat.
Over the past week, tensions have escalated rapidly. The conflict began last Friday when, during a parliamentary session, an opposition lawmaker asked Takaichi about scenarios that would threaten Japan’s survival. She responded that if China were to use battleships and force against Taiwan, it could constitute such a situation, invoking Japan’s 2015 security laws that permit military response to existential threats. This legal framework allows the activation of self-defence forces when an armed attack on allies poses an existential danger to Japan.
China’s foreign ministry swiftly condemned Takaichi’s comments as “egregious” and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs. The situation worsened when Xue Jian, China’s consul general in Osaka, shared a news article about the remarks on social media platform X, adding his own comment that “the dirty head that sticks itself in must be cut off,” which many interpreted as a threat against the Japanese prime minister. Beijing lodged its own protest over Takaichi’s statements, escalating the diplomatic row.
In response, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara called the diplomat’s remarks “highly inappropriate,” and Tokyo lodged a formal protest with Beijing. Despite the backlash, Takaichi declined to retract her comments, defending them as consistent with the government’s traditional position. However, she noted that she would exercise more caution in discussing specific scenarios moving forward, aiming to de-escalate the situation.
The spat is rooted in a long history of animosity between China and Japan, including conflicts in the 19th century and Japan’s brutal military campaign in China during World War II. Historical grievances have persistently strained bilateral relations, and Takaichi’s ascension as a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe signals potential for further tensions. Her conservative stance includes pursuing closer ties with the United States and pledging to increase Japan’s defence spending, which has raised alarms in Beijing.
Takaichi’s remarks represent a departure from Japan’s traditional policy of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan, mirroring the approach long used by the U.S. to deter China without explicitly committing to military action. For decades, this ambiguity has kept China guessing while allowing economic ties to flourish. Japanese officials have typically avoided public discussions on Taiwan security to prevent provoking Beijing, as seen in past incidents like the 2021 rebuke of then deputy prime minister Taro Aso for similar comments.
The current crisis underscores the fragile nature of Sino-Japanese relations and raises concerns about regional stability. As both sides dig in their heels, the international community watches closely for potential escalations that could impact global security and diplomacy. The incident highlights the sensitivity of Taiwan’s status, which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to reclaim, making any external statements on the issue highly volatile.
