China Warns Japan Has “Crossed a Red Line” After Tokyo Signals Possible Military Role in Taiwan Crisis:

China has sharply criticized Japan after remarks by newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo might consider a military response if China were to take aggressive action against Taiwan. The comments, made earlier this month, have triggered a new wave of diplomatic tension between two of Asia’s largest powers. In a strongly worded statement released Sunday on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned Takaichi’s remarks as “shocking,” saying the Japanese leader had ventured into territory that Japan should “never touch.” “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. He added that China must “resolutely respond” to these statements and urged the international community to remain vigilant against what he described as the potential “resurgence of Japanese militarism.” The controversy began when Takaichi suggested that a Chinese naval blockade or other coercive action toward Taiwan could justify a Japanese military response. Her comments appeared to go further than those of her predecessors, who had warned about China’s increasing pressure on Taiwan but stopped short of outlining how Japan might react in a military scenario. Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, reacted swiftly. On Friday, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, sent a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accusing Japan of violating international law and diplomatic norms. In the letter, Fu warned that any Japanese attempt to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait would amount to an “act of aggression.” “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.” Tensions over Taiwan have been rising steadily in recent years. While Taiwan governs itself and has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China, Beijing insists that unification—by force if necessary—is inevitable. China has been particularly wary of foreign involvement, especially from the United States, Taiwan’s biggest arms supplier, and its regional allies, including Japan and the Philippines. Japan, meanwhile, has been increasingly vocal about its security concerns as China expands its military activity near Japanese territory. Prime Minister Takaichi, known for her firm stance on national defense, has signaled that Japan cannot ignore a crisis in the Taiwan Strait—especially given Taiwan’s proximity to Japanese islands and the potential threat to regional stability. After criticism mounted, Takaichi declined to retract her comments but said she would avoid discussing hypothetical military scenarios going forward. Still, her remarks have already marked a significant shift in Japan’s public messaging on the Taiwan issue and have contributed to a noticeable cooling of relations between Tokyo and Beijing. As tensions escalate, regional analysts warn that communication between the two countries will be crucial to prevent miscalculation, especially at a time when East Asia faces growing geopolitical uncertainty.

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