Beijing: The dispute between China and Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan showed no signs of abating on Thursday, following a string of harsh articles in Chinese state media and calls for Japan to expel Chinese diplomats. Takaichi sparked outrage last week by saying in parliament that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could amount to a “survival threat” to Japan and could trigger a military response from Tokyo.
According to Thai News Agency, the comments prompted a formal protest from China, and threatening posts were also made against Takaichi by Xue Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, which Tokyo called “highly inappropriate” and has filed a complaint with Beijing. Although Takaichi later said she would refrain from making such comments and Japan urged both sides on Tuesday to work together to de-escalate the conflict, several editorials in Chinese state media suggested the conflict could drag on.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV said in an editorial late Tuesday that Takaichi’s comments had “extremely harmful characteristics and implications” and had “crossed the line” within China, while posts on CCTV’s affiliated social media accounts called Takaichi a “troublemaker”. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday that Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan seriously violated the one-China principle and were a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs.
Meanwhile, some senior political figures in Tokyo have urged Japan to consider expelling Chinese diplomat Xue Jian, who shared a news article about Takaichi’s comments on Saturday.