Asia-Pacific

China-Japan Row Shows No Signs of Letting Up

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By Justin Wu/Lery Hiciano

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Entering its third week, the diplomatic crisis between China and Japan shows no signs of letting up. China has formally brought the issue to the UN, calling Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's comments a "grave violation of international law," while Japan's defense minister visited the country's closest island to Taiwan and confirmed Tokyo's plans to deploy missiles there.

Beijing Looks to UN as Quarrel with Tokyo Intensifies

 

REPORTER:  

A spat that started two weeks ago shows no signs of letting up. Japan and China are locked in an escalating diplomatic dispute after Japanese prime minister Takaichi Sanae told lawmakers that the country could intervene in an attack on Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan and has never ruled out taking it by force if necessary.

 

China is now pressing its allies to join it in condemning Japan. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, on a visit to Tajikistan, called Sanae’s remarks "shocking," and said she "crossed a red line." He’s the highest-level official to comment on the matter so far.

 

And on Sunday, Japan’s defense minister visited Yonaguni, the country’s closest island to Taiwan, and announced government plans to deploy missiles there.

 

For Taiwan, the quarrel highlights how easily the geopolitical peace it hopes to maintain can be tested.

 

François Wu (TAIWAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER):  

The stability of the Taiwan Strait is absolutely the most important thing. Right now, the side that is expanding and rapidly building up its military in this area is not Japan, but China.

 

REPORTER:  

China now looks to push things to the next level. Last week, its mission to the United Nations wrote a letter invoking the horrors committed by Japan during World War II, and stating its grounds for attacking Japan if it intervenes in a Taiwan Strait conflict. China also accused Sanae of violating international law.

 

Experts say the letter is a way for Beijing to make its grievances appear more credible.

 

Chen Wen-chia (PROFESSOR, KAINAN UNIVERSITY):  

China wants to internationalize this dispute by filing a complaint with the United Nations. Through this letter, China is turning what was originally a bilateral issue about the Taiwan Strait and security into a matter [to be handled under] the multilateral framework of international law enhancing the legitimacy of its protest.

 

REPORTER:  

But by turning to the international community, China may be raising Taiwan’s profile and encouraging greater cooperation with what the foreign ministry here calls "like-minded countries."

 

Chen Wen-chia (PROFESSOR, KAINAN UNIVERSITY):  

This situation naturally reveals how important Taiwan’s strategic position is. Including Taiwan within the US-Japan alliance and encouraging more trilateral cooperation now has more legitimacy. But with more importance comes even more pressure [from China].

 

REPORTER:  

That pressure is being felt by both Japan and Taiwan. In the weeks following Takaichi’s remarks, China began and extended live-fire exercises in the Yellow Sea, which borders Japan. And Taiwan has seen several surges in Chinese military activity near the country.

 

China has also refused to meet with Japan’s delegation at this year’s G20 summit in South Africa, though Tokyo says it’s still open to dialogue.

 

And with Beijing now turning to friends and the UN to drum up support, chances of its spat with Japan getting resolved soon look increasingly slim.