China defends envoy’s threat aimed at Takaichi remark
China on Monday defended social media comments made by a Chinese diplomat criticizing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks about her country’s possible involvement in a Taiwan emergency, saying Tokyo had hinted at “military intervention.”
Calling Takaichi’s remarks “a gross interference in China’s internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing has lodged a protest over them.
Chinese Consul Gen. Xue Jian in Osaka on Saturday threatened to “cut off a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation,” referring to Takaichi’s stance.
Beijing defended the consul’s remark as Tokyo lodged a stern protest with China regarding the violent threat by Xue.
According to a Japanese government source, the X (formerly Twitter) post by the Chinese consul general threatened to “cut off a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation” while citing a news article on Takaichi’s remarks in parliament. “Are you ready for that?” the post read.
‘Extremely inappropriate’
Japan’s top government spokesman, Minoru Kihara, told a regular press conference on Monday, “We must say that the post is extremely inappropriate for a Chinese diplomatic mission head.”
While noting that the intention of the message was unclear, the chief Cabinet secretary also said the Japanese foreign ministry and the Japanese embassy in China have lodged a protest and demanded the post be swiftly deleted. Some measures had been taken by Sunday night, Kihara indicated.
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-defense.
Communist-ruled China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split due to a civil war in 1949. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Beijing views the Taiwan question as purely China’s “internal affairs” that brooks no foreign interference.
