Takaichi’s Speech on Taiwan Provokes Diplomatic Disputes

The argument of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan contingency in the Diet discussion was developed into diplomatic disputes between Japan and China. As Beijing denounced Takaichi’s reference to use of force in Taiwan and demanded to retract the speech, Tokyo accused of provocative posting of a Chinese diplomat as inappropriate. The sudden decay of their bilateral relations does not seem to be fixed anytime soon.

In discussion at Committee on Budget of House of Representatives on November 7th, Takaichi told that it would be consist of “survival-threatening situation,’ in which Japan is able to use its force, when China possibly set a blockade in the sea around Taiwan and use its force against the United States coming to the area to defend Taiwan. Former prime ministers did not mention as explicitly as Takaichi did.

 

The Consul General of China in Osaka, Xue Jian, intimidatingly responded to Takaichi in social networking service three days later. “Intruding dirty neck must be cut off without a moment’s hesitation. Are you ready for that?” posted Xue. Takaichi administration immediately accused of Xue’s comment as inappropriate. Some hawkish lawmakers in the Liberal Democratic Party argued that Japanese government should designate Xue as a persona non grata, or a person not welcomed.

 

The spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, demanded Japan on November 13th to correct and retract Takaichi’s comment. The ministry called Japanese Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, and firmly protested Takaichi’s comment. The next day, Chinese foreign ministry instructed Chinese citizens not to travel to Japan, arguing that safety of Chinese travelers in Japan is at risk with Japan’s explicit intimidation related to Taiwan. A number of Chinese tours have been cancelled.

 

China’s counteractions continued. People’s Liberation Army Daily reported on November 15th that Takaichi’s comment violated past agreed documents between China and Japan and would face a serious consequence, saying that “any external interference forced will be crushed to ashes.” Chinese Ministry of Education urged Chinese students to be careful in studying in Japan.

 

The chief of Asia-Pacific Bureau in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Japan visited Beijing to explain that Takaichi’s comment did not deviate from former stance of Japanese government, which did not comment on Japan’s activity in a specific situation in Taiwan. However, China has not mitigated hard position against Japan which it had been taken after Takaichi’s comment.

 

Takaichi has been talking about a contingency in Taiwan in a context that “Taiwan contingency is Japanese contingency,” a concept which had been expressed by former prime minister Shinzo Abe in December, 2021. As far as Takaichi succeeds Abe’s political stance on Taiwan issue, it is unlikely that the relations between Japan and China will soon be fixed to a moderate situation.

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