Takaichi sparked a diplomatic row with Beijing by telling parliament last week that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose a “survival-threatening situation” and trigger a potential military response from Tokyo.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference that the Japanese Prime Minister’s statements represent “gross interference” in China’s internal affairs and deal a “heavy blow” to bilateral relations.
“We strongly warn Japan that it must think deeply about its historical crimes of aggression, immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and stop its provocative words and actions. Do not play with fire on the Taiwan issue, because those who play with fire will eventually get burned,” he said.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its own and does not rule out using force to take control of the island. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claims and says only the Taiwanese people can decide the island’s future.
“If Japan dares to intervene militarily in the situation in the Taiwan Strait, it will be an act of aggression, and China will resolutely retaliate,” Lin announced. There are no signs that tensions between China and Japan are easing.
Meanwhile, senior political officials in Tokyo called for the expulsion of China’s consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, who shared a newspaper article about the Japanese prime minister’s remarks and commented: “We have no choice but to cut off that dirty head that attacked us.”
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi called the comment “unfortunate.”
“Japan will continue to strongly encourage the Chinese side to take appropriate measures so that it does not affect the broader flow of Japan-China relations,” Motegi said at a press conference in Canada on the sidelines of the G7 meeting. He did not respond to a question about whether Xue should be expelled.
(Vijesti.ba)
