A Chinese diplomat’s aggressive comments threatening Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her remarks about Tokyo’s potential involvement in any Chinese action over Taiwan have stirred up a major diplomatic row between the two countries. Japan on Monday lodged a stern protest with China over Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian’s social media post in which he threatened to “cut off dirty neck without a moment of hesitation” while citing a news article on Takaichi’s remarks in parliament. “We must say that the post is extremely inappropriate for a Chinese diplomatic mission head,” Japan’s government spokesman Minoru Kihara was quoted as saying by the Japanese news agency, Kyodo.
The post, however, had been deleted, he said. The flare-up occurred after Takaichi told a parliamentary committee on Friday that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could be a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, which could exercise its right to collective self-defence. Responding to the Chinese diplomat’s comments, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jiao told the media here Monday that Takaichi’s remarks are “a gross interference in China’s internal affairs” and Beijing has lodged a protest with Tokyo. Declining to comment on the Chinese diplomat’s comments, Lin said it was in response to Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, a “red line” for China. “I hope Japan will stop creating confusion and shifting blame,” he said.
Since she took over power in Japan last month, becoming the first woman Prime Minister of the country, Takaichi, who is regarded as a hawk in China, is stirring up the Taiwan pot, riling Beijing. “The situation regarding Taiwan has become serious. We must assume the worst-case scenario,” Takaichi told the parliamentary session, highlighting recent aggressive actions by China, which has deployed warships and fighter aircraft in defence drills around Taiwan, closely located near Japan. Lin said Takaichi’s remarks are “seriously damaging bilateral ties and challenging post-war international order” Lin continued.
