Last Week, during a parliamentary committee, Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was asked about possible scenarios that might provoke the deployment of Japan’s self-defense forces. Her response triggered China’s outrage. In particular, Sanae Takaichi said that China’s attack on Taiwan could be considered “a survival-threatening situation”, “an existential threat” for Japan. It is noteworthy to say that the Japanese island of Yonaguni lies just 100km from Taiwan, so China’s possible military attack on Taiwan and presence of its warships in the East China Sea might be concerning for Japan.
The prime minister pointed out specific scenarios, such as a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan or actions deterring the arrival of U.S. forces, saying that these cases “by all means” would qualify as situations in which Japan might deploy its self-defense forces under the 2015 law regarding collective self-defense.
According to its postwar constitution, Japan is prohibited from using force to resolve international disputes, but the above-mentioned law, which was passed during Shinzo Abe’s tenure, permits Japan to exercise military action in defense of allies (for example, the U.S) if the situation threatens Japan’s survival.
Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan were met with harsh criticism by Chinese representatives. “We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has been lunged at us without hesitation. Are you ready?”- China’s consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, posted on X. This post was later deleted, but it stirred up diplomatic tension between China and Japan. Xue’s post was deemed “extremely inappropriate” by Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, requesting an explanation from China.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described Xue’s post as a message reflecting his personal views, but at the same time justified it as a response to “the erroneous and dangerous remarks that attempt to separate Taiwan from China’s territory and advocate military intervention in the Taiwan Strait.” He also rhetorically asked: “Is Japan attempting to challenge China’s core interests and obstruct the great cause of China’s reunification?” “Where does Japan intend to take China-Japan relations?”.
It is noteworthy that since taking office, this is not the first time Sanae Takaichi has triggered Chinese outrage. China was angered by her meeting with Lin Hsin-I, a senior adviser of the presidential office of Taiwan, earlier this month during the APEC summit in South Korea. Takaichi posted photos of herself and Lin Hsin-I on social media, and in the comments section, she expressed hope that “practical cooperation between Japan and Taiwan will deepen”. China condemned those actions as “egregious in nature and impact”; “severely violating the one-China principle, the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and basic norms of international relations”.
It must also be said that before meeting Lin Hsin-I, Takaichi also held a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping, where both country leaders agreed on their intentions to develop constructive and stable ties between China and Japan, but taking into consideration recent events, China-Japan relations during Takaichi’s tenure might not be smooth or stable.
Author: Salome Markhvashvili
