China Issues a Warning That Japan Has “Crossed a Red Line” Regarding Potential Military Intervention in Taiwan
China accuses Tokyo of renewing dangerous militarism and denounces Japan’s prime minister for speculating about potential military action over Taiwan.
Japan has come under heavy fire from China for implying that it would launch a military intervention if Beijing employs force against Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned that Tokyo has “crossed a red line” and sent a hazardous signal.
Wang, the highest ranking Chinese official to speak out on the matter thus far, responded angrily to remarks made earlier this month by Sanae Takaichi, the incoming prime minister of Japan. Beijing called Takaichi’s comments “shocking,” saying that a Chinese naval blockade or any aggressive action toward Taiwan could justify a Japanese military response.
In a statement published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website, Wang said, “It is shocking that Japan’s current leaders have publicly sent the wrong signal of attempting military intervention in the Taiwan issue, said things they shouldn’t have said, and crossed a red line that should not have been touched.”
Invoking historical sensitivities stemming from Japan’s wartime colonization of Taiwan and portions of China, he stated that China must “resolutely respond” to Japan’s position and contended that the international community has a duty to “prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.”
In recent weeks, tensions have progressively increased. In a formal letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, Beijing accused Takaichi of a “grave violation of international law” and threatened dire repercussions should Japan ever try to intervene in a Taiwan dispute.
China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong commented, “It would be an act of aggression if Japan dared to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation.” “China will firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolutely exercise its right of self-defense under the UN Charter and international law.”
China has pledged to reunify with Taiwan, by force if necessary, and considers the island, which Japan governed as a colony from 1895 to 1945, to be part of its territory. China is adamantly against any foreign intervention in Taiwanese security and has singled out the US and its allies, including Japan and the Philippines, for strengthening defense relations with Taipei.
Takaichi’s remarks represent a more significant departure from the ambivalence upheld by other Japanese leaders. Although previous prime ministers have voiced their worries about China’s increasing pressure on Taiwan, they have refrained from publicly speculating about Japan’s possible reaction.
The Japanese leader stated she would not discuss fictitious war scenarios in the future, which was interpreted as an effort to defuse diplomatic tensions without reversing her stance, even though she later refused to take back her statements.
