'Beheading' Threat: Why China Fears Japan's ‘Clarity’
Intro:
- Japan condemns Chinese diplomat’s “beheading” threat
- Japanese Defense Minister: Tokyo considering nuclear submarines
- Fujian aircraft carrier adds new capabilities to China’s fleet
- Beijing dominates Myanmar’s rare earth industry
Tensions have spiked between Tokyo and Beijing after the Chinese Consul General in Osaka posted — and later deleted — a message on X calling for the beheading of Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Takaichi Sanae. The firestorm caused by “wolf warrior” Xue Jian followed an answer by the PM to an opposition lawmaker’s question that a hypothetical Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be “survival threatening” for Japan, potentially triggering a military response. Meanwhile, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro says the country is considering nuclear submarines. It comes amid concerns about China’s expanding navy, including its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian. How should Japan respond to this diplomat’s threats? And how dangerous is China’s newest carrier? In this episode, we discuss Tokyo-Beijing ties, the shifting balance of maritime power in the Western Pacific, and China’s continued monopoly over Myanmar’s rare earth exports.
*Recorded on November 14, 2025 at 1:30pm Taiwan Standard Time
Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat
Producer: Julien Oeuillet
Our guests:
Derek J. Mitchell
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Asia Program Non-Resident Senior Advisor
- Former US Ambassador to Myanmar
- Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs
Randall Schriver
- Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
- Institute for Indo-Pacific Security Board Chair
- US-China Economic and Security Review Commissioner
- Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
- US-Taiwan Business Council Board Director
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