• Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated a possible military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
• China's Consul General threatened remarks toward Takaichi, provoking a strong protest from Japan.
• Takaichi's comments mark a shift from Japan's previously ambiguous stance on Taiwan.
• The situation underscores the fragile state of Japan-China relations amid historical tensions.

The diplomatic tension between Japan and China has escalated following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks suggesting that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could necessitate military action from Tokyo. Takaichi described such a scenario as a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan—a legal definition under which the country could deploy its Self-Defense Forces. Her comments not only deviated from Japan's usual strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan but also set off a strong backlash from Beijing, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

In response, Xue Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, made a controversial post on social media platform X, where he stated, "We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has lunged at us without a moment's hesitation." This aggressive rhetoric drew a formal protest from Japan, which deemed these remarks "extremely inappropriate." Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minoru Kihara, confirmed that Japan has repeatedly requested appropriate action from Beijing regarding the diplomat's statements, according to Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

The tensions come shortly after Takaichi's first in-office meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders discussed the importance of stable Sino-Japanese relations. However, Takaichi's comments on Taiwan, especially following her public engagement with a Taiwanese representative at the recent APEC summit, have strained ties significantly. Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, condemned Takaichi's remarks as blatant interference in China's sovereignty, framing them as an affront to the one-China principle. He underscored this point by calling the remarks "provocative" and affecting Japan-China relations negatively, as reported by Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

Furthermore, Takaichi later asserted her comments were meant to be hypothetical and stated she would avoid similar statements in the future. This admission highlights the ongoing challenges Japan faces in balancing its defense posture with diplomatic relations. The ongoing friction suggests that while economic ties between Japan and China have been relatively stable, political relations remain fraught with tension, as noted by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.