Beijing-Tokyo ties suffer ‘major dent’ after Japanese PM’s remarks on Taiwan: Journalist

By Press TV Website Staff

The simmering tensions between China and Japan in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan represent “the most dangerous situation in the past several decades,” says a Taiwan-based journalist and political analyst.

In an interview with the Press TV website, Hilton Yip said her recent remarks on Taiwan have “wholly reflected her stance” on the issue, given her history and past remarks on China.

In her maiden parliamentary address since taking office in October, Takaichi last week suggested that Japan could potentially engage militarily if China invades Taiwan, in a departure from her country’s official stance that recognizes the one-China policy.

Takaichi referred to what she called “Taiwan contingency,” implying that an attack on Taiwan could pose an existential threat to Japan, and in that case, Japan would act militarily to defend itself.

“The so-called Taiwan contingency has become so serious that we have to anticipate a worst-case scenario,” said Takaichi, who belongs to the right of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is known for a hawkish stance on Taiwan.

China reacted strongly to the Japanese premier’s remarks, with its foreign ministry urging Tokyo to refrain from provoking “Taiwan independence separatist forces.” 

Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, even threatened to “cut a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation” in a tweet that was later deleted.

Lin Jian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, defended Xue’s post and urged Japan to “stop sending any wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces”.

The two neighboring countries also summoned each other’s ambassadors, with Beijing also issuing travel advisories to its nationals against visiting Japan.

A Chinese military outlet warned that Japan would “become a battlefield” if it intervenes in Taiwan, and the Chinese foreign ministry cited the 1972 China-Japan Joint Communiqué, stressing that Japan must honor its commitments regardless of which administration is in power

Yip said the possibility of US influence on the newly elected Japanese premier “cannot be discounted,” since her remarks come amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington.

“I think this is certainly very tense and perhaps the most dangerous situation in the past several decades,” the Taiwan-based freelance journalist and political analyst told the Press TV website.

“China has always said that Taiwan is an internal matter and a red line (which it has told the US directly) and no Japanese leader has ever said anything like what Sanae Takaichi said,” he hastened to add, noting that China-Japan ties have “suffered a major dent.”

As tensions rise between China and the US over Taiwan, with some even warning of a potential military confrontation, Yip said the atmosphere in Taiwan among the public is normal.

“However, the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) government has been alarmed enough to speak out about it and even call on Beijing to stop its actions against Japan. I think the DPP is definitely very worried because Japan is considered their second-biggest "friend", behind the US,” he said.

Many, however, are seeing the Japanese prime minister’s latest remarks through the lens of lingering historical grievances between the two countries.

Yip said Takaichi's remarks struck a “raw nerve” in Beijing since the memories of what Japan did to China during World War II are still present.

“Just this year, two movies were released in China about Japan's massacre in Nanjing (after its military stormed and overran China's then capital and raped and killed many Chinese) and its infamous Unit 731, which committed biological and chemical experiments on Chinese prisoners,” he noted.

“If anything, China's stance towards Japan has been relatively restrained during these past decades regarding Japan addressing its actions in WWII.

“As I emphasized, and which many people believe, Japan has barely done anything to apologize for its actions and to educate its people, especially when compared to Germany.”

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