The controversy surrounding Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in the House of Representatives last week regarding a potential crisis in Taiwan continues to escalate. On Friday evening (November 14), the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued an unusually strong travel warning, urging Chinese citizens to "refrain from traveling to Japan in the near future." This move is seen as the most direct response to Takaichi's comments, further escalating diplomatic tensions between China and Japan.
Comprehensive media reportsSanae Kaoichi stated in the Diet last Friday (7th) that if Taiwan were to be attacked militarily, it could constitute an "existential crisis" under the Security Legislation, allowing Japan to exercise its right of collective self-defense, but this would depend on the specific circumstances. This statement marks the first time a sitting Japanese prime minister has explicitly stated in the Diet that "if Taiwan is in danger, Japan is in danger."
The Consular Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a notice on the evening of the 14th, urging Chinese citizens not to travel to Japan for the time being, and also reminding those currently in Japan to be vigilant, pay attention to security, and contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Japan immediately in case of emergency, which has attracted international attention.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi emphasized on the same day that there was "no need to retract" Prime Minister Takashi's statement, and pointed out that China's criticism was "inconsistent with the facts." He stated at a press conference, "The criteria for determining a crisis situation have been clearly defined, and the relevant bills have been reviewed and passed by the Diet, so there is no risk of violating international law."
Last week, Xue Jian, China's Consul General in Osaka, made a "decapitation" remark on the social media platform X, hinting at his dissatisfaction with Takashi Masahiro's statement. Toshimitsu Motegi also expressed serious concern over Xue's remarks, emphasizing that Japan will continue to urge China to take appropriate countermeasures to avoid damaging bilateral relations.
Further reading｜The Chinese consul in Osaka responded to the "Taiwan incident" comment, implying a decapitation strike in Kaohsiung, which sparked criticism.
It is understood that although the Japanese government has not explicitly stated whether it will list Xue Jian as a "persona non grata," according to the Mainichi Shimbun, Japan has expelled diplomatic personnel from Japan four times in its history, including the 1973 case of a South Korean secretary involved in the kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung and the 2022 expulsion of the Russian Consul General in Sapporo.
