Tension between Japan and China

Tension seems to be increasing between China and Japan. Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had given statements regarding Taiwan. He had given statements related to a possible attack on Taiwan. After this, China has now advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in parliament on November 7 that there could be a military response from Tokyo if force is used against self-ruled Taiwan claimed by China. Meanwhile, due to an inappropriate and now deleted online post, on Friday Beijing summoned Japan’s ambassador, while Tokyo summoned China’s ambassador. Tokyo has still said that there has been no change in its position towards Taiwan.

Citizens advised not to go to Japan

In an online post late Friday, China’s Embassy in Japan warned its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. Recently, Japanese leaders have been openly making provocative statements regarding Taiwan, which has seriously affected the environment of dialogue and interaction between people, the WeChat post said.

The post further said that this situation poses a serious risk to the personal safety and life of Chinese citizens in Japan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Japan seriously advise their citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the coming days.

Tension increased regarding Taiwan

Beijing says Taiwan — which Japan occupied for decades until 1945 — is part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to regain control. China and Japan are important trading partners, but tensions remain due to historical distrust and regional competition.

Takaichi gave statement regarding Taiwan

Takaichi, a conservative and anti-China leader, has softened his stance since taking power last month. But just a few weeks into his government, differences have emerged between the two neighbours.

Speaking in Parliament on November 7, Takaichi said that if there was an armed attack on Taiwan, troops could be sent there as a matter of collective self-defense. He said, if warships and force are used in an emergency situation in Taiwan, it could become a threat (to Japan’s existence), no matter from which perspective it is viewed.

The security law passed in 2015 allows Japan to invoke the right of collective self-defense in certain circumstances, including when there is a clear threat to the country’s existence. Despite the growing diplomatic controversy, Takaichi has so far indicated that she does not intend to withdraw her statement and stressed that it is in line with Tokyo’s long-standing policy.

The former Japanese prime minister has avoided commenting directly on Taiwan’s security and instead maintains strategic ambiguity. The US has also long been deliberately vague about its military deployment to defend Taiwan.

Controversy regarding the post

In response to Takaichi’s statement, Chinese Consul General in Osaka Shue Jian made a controversial post on social media. Which was obviously a reference to Takaichi. Japan lodged a protest against this removed social media post.

Before taking power, Takaichi, a protégé of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, had been a vocal critic of China and its military expansion in the Asia-Pacific. Takaichi has previously visited Taiwan and met with Taipei’s representative at the recent APEC summit, where he also spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping.