Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sparked diplomatic tension with China with her recent gestures towards Taiwan, especially her speech on Friday (7), when she announced that possible military intervention by Beijing on the island may require military action by Tokyo.
In response to an opposition parliamentarian’s question about situations in which she could invoke a law allowing the prime minister to use the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Takaishi stated that the Chinese regime’s attempt to bring Taiwan under its rule through military force would be an example of this. This is because an attack on US warships used to break the Chinese blockade of the island may require Tokyo to intervene to defend the ally.
Tokyo, like many other countries, has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but maintains behind-the-scenes support, as does the United States.
Japan is one of Taiwan’s closest neighbors, located about 110 kilometers from the island. It is also a historic ally of the United States and hosts the largest American military contingent abroad. A Chinese incursion into the region could also threaten the Japanese archipelago, which prompted the Prime Minister to state that the use of force, in this case, would also be to protect the country itself.
Takaishi even stated that his comments were hypothetical and that in the future he would avoid this type of speech in Parliament.
But his statements sparked reactions from China. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday (10) that the government official’s demonstration “constitutes serious interference in China’s internal affairs and violates the one-China principle.”
Beijing claims the territory of Taiwan – officially called the Republic of China, with a democratically elected president – as part of its territory, and does not rule out the use of force in the event of reunification.
“What signal is the Japanese leader trying to send to pro-independence separatist forces in Taiwan? Is Japan prepared to challenge China’s core interests and prevent its reunification? Where exactly does Japan want to take its relations with China?” he asked. Lin said, stressing that Takaichi’s statements also challenge the international order after World War II.
Lin went on to declare that the Chinese people have all the “determination, will and conviction to thwart any external interference and obstruct reunification.”
He added, “China urges Japan to immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, stop provocation and transgressing boundaries, and stop going down the wrong path.”
Echoing the spokesman’s remarks, Chinese broadcaster CCTV said the next day, in an editorial, that Takaishi’s comments had “crossed the line.”
The Prime Minister’s speeches and Beijing’s response came days after a meeting between her and the leader of the Chinese regime, Xi Jinping, in Jeonju, South Korea, where the APEC summit (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Portuguese) is being held, in which they both participated.
At the time, Xi stated, according to Chinese state media, that he was ready for a constructive and stable bilateral relationship.
Tensions escalated immediately after the handshake, which was aimed at strengthening the new prime minister’s relationship with the Chinese authority. Also on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, Takaichi met with Taiwan’s representative at the summit, Senior Advisor to President Lin Hsien-i.
In a post on social media, the politician published a picture and wrote that she hopes to deepen cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting sparked protests from Beijing, which condemned the meeting and stated that the actions – both the meeting and the online posting – “seriously violate the ‘one China’ principle, as well as leaving aside basic norms of international relations, sending a very wrong signal to pro-independence forces in Taiwan.”
“Such actions are egregious in terms of their nature and impact. China expresses its strong opposition and has made solemn representations to Japan,” the Foreign Ministry statement said.
With Reuters
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