China Demands Retraction After Japan Signals Taiwan Attack Could Trigger Self-Defense

Overview

• China’s Foreign Ministry labeled Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks a gross interference and warned of a forceful response if Japan intervenes in a Taiwan conflict.
• Tokyo filed a formal protest over a now-removed post by China’s consul-general in Osaka that included an explicit threat toward Takaichi and called the message extremely inappropriate.
• Senior lawmakers from Japan’s ruling and opposition parties urged the government to expel the consul if Beijing fails to address the incident.
• Chinese state media escalated rhetoric with insults toward Takaichi and warnings she may have to pay a price, signaling no near-term easing of tensions.
• Takaichi’s comments invoke a legal term from Japan’s 2015 security legislation that permits collective self-defense in defined survival scenarios, as Taiwan and the U.S. condemned the Chinese remarks.