Shockwaves Across the Chinese Mainland
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks last week in the Japanese Diet sparked a wave of official rebukes and public outrage. She warned that any use of force by the Chinese mainland in the Taiwan region could pose an existential threat to Japan, hinting at military intervention in the Taiwan Strait. She later refused to retract her comments.
Strong Official Responses
The People’s Liberation Army Daily devoted its front-page commentary to denounce her statements as historically and factually ignorant, accusing Japanese right-wing elements of reviving militaristic ambitions. Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin warned that any military interference would face a crushing defeat by the People’s Liberation Army.
The People’s Daily echoed this view, noting it was the first time since Japan’s defeat in 1945 that a Japanese leader linked collective self-defense to Taiwan region security in an official setting. Experts like Cai Liang from the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies described the remarks as a serious regression in Japan’s stance on cross-Strait ties.
Online Backlash
On social media platforms such as thepaper.cn and sina.com, thousands of netizens condemned the Japanese leader’s comments. One user on thepaper.cn questioned whether Takaichi could bear the consequences of undermining China’s core interests, while another on sina.com warned that any interference would meet a heavy price.
Diplomatic Moves
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised citizens on its WeChat consular account to reconsider travel plans to Japan amid heightened tensions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian urged Japan to retract its statements or face responsibility for the fallout. Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned the Japanese ambassador in Beijing to deliver formal demarches, demanding reflection and correction of the remarks.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, reminded audiences of Japan’s colonial rule over the island of Taiwan and its historical crimes, stressing that the Chinese government and people will never tolerate attempts to interfere in cross-Strait affairs.
What’s Next?
As official rhetoric intensifies and social media debates heat up, the international community is watching closely. For young global citizens and business leaders, the episode serves as a reminder of the fragility of regional security and the importance of diplomacy in preventing historical grievances from igniting new conflicts.
Reference(s):
Outrage, rebuke from across China over Japanese PM's erroneous remarks
cgtn.com
