China Urges Takaichi to Retract Remark on Taiwan

Beijing, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to retract her recent remark regarding a potential contingency over Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a news conference that the Japanese side must take full responsibility for the matter. He said that if Japan were to intervene militarily in a Taiwan contingency, it would be considered an act of aggression, and that China would surely retaliate against the country. Takaichi said at a parliamentary session last Friday that a potential contingency over Taiwan could constitute a situation that threatens Japan’s survival. Lin said that Takaichi has stubbornly refused to retract the remark even after the Chinese protest. He criticized Japan’s involvement in the Taiwan issue, saying that it challenges the postwar international order and could seriously damage China-Japan relations. The spokesperson asserted that China will resolutely protect its national sovereignty and territory if Japan were to intervene in a Taiwan contingency by exercising its right to collective self-defense. He also defended Xue Jian, China’s consul-general in Osaka, western Japan, who said in an X post in Japanese in response to Takaichi’s remark that “we just need to chop off their dirty heads without a moment of hesitation.” Xue’s online comments were made in response to a dangerous remark, Lin said. Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed the advancement of a mutually beneficial strategic relationship during their meeting in South Korea on Oct. 31, held on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit. China later reacted strongly to Takaichi’s meeting in South Korea with a Taiwanese representative and to her remark regarding Taiwan, continuing to criticize her administration. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]