Last week at a Diet meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that the Chinese mainland’s “use of force on Taiwan” could pose a survival-threatening situation for Japan. She refused to retract her comment implying possible armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
Immediately, the People’s Liberation Army Daily ran a front-page commentary denouncing Takaichi’s words as historically ignorant and dangerously provocative. The article accused Japan’s right wing of resurrecting militaristic ambitions under the guise of “security concerns.” 👀
Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin backed the criticism, warning that any Japanese interference in the Taiwan question would face a “crushing defeat against the steel-willed People’s Liberation Army.” The People’s Daily noted this is the first time since 1945 that a Japanese leader has linked collective self-defense with Taiwan’s security in an official setting—a sign of a worrying resurgence of militarism.
Experts also weighed in: Cai Liang of the Center for Northeast Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies called the remarks a serious regression in Japan’s stance on cross-strait ties and a direct violation of China’s sovereignty.
On social media, Chinese netizens rallied in opposition. One user on thepaper.cn asked whether Takaichi could “bear the consequences of such a case against the interests of the entire Chinese people,” while others warned, “No one can stop our reunification!”
Former Kuomintang Chairperson Hung Hsiu-chu took to Facebook to remind Tokyo that “Taiwan is no longer a Japanese colony” and condemned the comments as “historical arrogance and political interference.”
Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs even advised citizens to reconsider travel to Japan, citing risks to personal safety after the PM’s “provocative” statements. Spokesperson Lin Jian demanded an immediate retraction, and Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi to lodge a formal protest.
Chen Binhua of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office invoked Japan’s colonial-era crimes in Taiwan, declaring any attempt to interfere in cross-strait affairs unacceptable.
As tensions simmer, diplomatic efforts will be watched closely. Stay tuned for updates. 🌐
Reference(s):
Outrage, rebuke from across China over Japanese PM's erroneous remarks
cgtn.com
