Overview
- China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong denounced Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark as an “act of aggression” after Beijing raised the issue at the United Nations.
- Beijing expanded pressure with a suspension of Japanese seafood imports, a pause in beef talks, travel warnings, and canceled cultural releases, with local reports noting widespread ticket cancellations.
- Tokyo characterized Takaichi’s comment as hypothetical, signaled it would avoid similar explicit statements in Parliament, and sent envoy Masaaki Kanai to seek de-escalation in Beijing.
- China rejected a climbdown short of a retraction, amplified nationalist messaging through state and military-linked channels, and increased shows of pressure including Coast Guard activity near disputed islets.
- Analysts say the standoff is an early test for Takaichi’s leadership with economic risks mounting and no clear off-ramp agreed by either side.