Japan PM Sticks to Her Guns on Taiwan Amid China Spat
After Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spoke about Japan's Taiwan contingency, a Chinese diplomat issued threatening remarks, prompting an official protest from Tokyo. Analysts say it’s the latest example of China’s “wolf warrior” style diplomacy under Xi Jinping.
China’s Wolf Warrior Diplomacy Sparks Japan Row
REPORTER:
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is sticking to her guns days after saying that any armed Chinese aggression against Taiwan could threaten the survival of her country.
Words that prompted a violent response from China’s lead diplomat in Osaka, Xue Jian. He wrote on X that if Japan “dares to intervene” in the Taiwan issue, China would not hesitate to “cut their filthy necks.”
Japan has lodged a protest, calling the post “inappropriate.”
Minoru Kihara (JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY):
Although the purpose is unclear, it must be said that it is extremely inappropriate as an article written by a Chinese diplomatic mission.
REPORTER:
Responding to the complaint, China’s foreign ministry said Takaichi’s statements prodded historic wounds left over from the last time the two countries were at war.
Lin Jian (SPOKESPERSON, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY):
A Japanese leader trying to wade into cross-strait affairs is an affront to international justice a provocation to the post-WWII order and a serious danger to China-Japan relations.
REPORTER:
Still Xue’s post continues to draw international ire. US ambassador to Japan George Glass blasted it as a failure to be the “good neighbor” China often claims to be. And, Taiwan’s presidential office said it crossed the “bounds of diplomatic etiquette.”
Other leaders said it was an example of an aggressive Chinese policy – known as wolf warrior diplomacy.
Hsiao Kuang-wei (SPOKESPERSON, TAIWAN FOREIGN MINISTRY):
In fact China’s diplomats with their wolf-warrior words and actions have been truly eye-opening and further reveal their reckless, hegemonic mindset.
REPORTER:
Analysts say Xue’s tweet fits into a pattern of so-called wolf warrior diplomacy championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The policy encourages diplomats to speak out boldly against perceived enemies, but it has also resulted in worse relations with other countries.
Arthur Ding (EMERITUS PROFESSOR, NATIONAL CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY):
As a result so-called “wolf warrior” diplomacy has put China especially with traditional Western countries frankly speaking, in a rather difficult situation.
REPORTER:
So far, China has defended its diplomats, saying Xue was safeguarding the country’s claims over Taiwan. But experts say such actions have only further strained its ties with Japan, rather than winning support on the Taiwan issue.
For her part, Prime Minster Takaichi has refused to retract her statements on Taiwan. But she did say she’ll be more careful moving forward.
