China has issued a stern warning to Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo could consider military action if Beijing uses force against Taiwan, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accusing Japan of sending a “dangerous signal” and reviving past militarism.
Wang, the most senior Chinese official to comment on the matter, condemned Takaichi’s recent remarks, describing them as “shocking” and beyond acceptable diplomatic boundaries.
“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,” Wang said in a statement released via the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
He argued that China must “resolutely respond” to Japan’s position and insisted the international community has a duty to “prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism,” invoking historical tensions rooted in Japan’s wartime occupation of Taiwan and parts of China.
The diplomatic fallout intensified on Friday when China sent a formal letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In it, China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong described Takaichi’s comments as a “grave violation of international law,” warning of serious consequences should Japan attempt to involve itself in a Taiwan conflict.
“If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression,” Fu wrote. “China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defense under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Beijing maintains that Taiwan—which was under Japanese colonial rule from 1895 to 1945—is part of its territory and has vowed eventual reunification, including by force if necessary. China has repeatedly opposed any external involvement in Taiwan’s security, criticising the United States and its allies, including Japan and the Philippines, for strengthening defence ties with the island.
Takaichi’s remarks reflect a more explicit stance than that of her predecessors, who voiced concern over China’s pressure on Taiwan but avoided spelling out potential Japanese responses. Although she refused to retract her statement, the prime minister later said she would avoid discussing hypothetical military scenarios in the future—an apparent attempt to de-escalate tensions without reversing her position.
