China has escalated a diplomatic confrontation with Japan by officially advising its citizens against travelling to the country, following provocative comments from Tokyo's new prime minister about Taiwan's defence.
Diplomatic Crisis Escalates
The controversy erupted on 7th November when Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament that any use of force against Taiwan could warrant a military response from Tokyo under Japan's collective self-defence laws. China's embassy in Japan responded on Friday with a stark travel warning posted on WeChat.
The Chinese embassy statement declared that recent comments from Japanese leaders had created significant risks to the personal safety of Chinese citizens in Japan, severely damaging the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
Ambassadors Summoned in Tit-for-Tat Moves
The diplomatic spat intensified as Beijing summoned Japan's ambassador while Tokyo retaliated by summoning China's ambassador over what it called inappropriate online posts. The Chinese consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, had posted about cutting off that dirty neck in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Takaichi, though the message was subsequently removed.
Japan's ruling party has since passed a resolution calling for the Chinese envoy to be declared persona non grata, further straining relations between the two Asian powers.
Historical Tensions Resurface
Beijing maintains its longstanding position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, having never ruled out using force to achieve reunification. Japan occupied Taiwan for decades until 1945, adding historical complexity to current tensions.
Despite being major trading partners, China and Japan have frequently experienced friction over territorial disputes, military spending, and historical mistrust. Prime Minister Takaichi, known as a China hawk, has somewhat moderated her rhetoric since taking office last month but has shown no intention of retracting her Taiwan statements.
The security legislation passed in 2015 allows Japan to exercise collective self-defence rights when facing situations threatening the country's survival. Takaichi argued that an armed attack on Taiwan, located just 100km from Japan's nearest islands, could constitute such a threat.
While maintaining her comments reflect longstanding Japanese policy, Takaichi has indicated she will refrain from discussing specific scenarios in future, marking a departure from previous prime ministers who typically maintained strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan's defence.
