Beijing [China], November 22 (ANI): Tensions between China and Japan have sharply escalated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made strong remarks in parliament earlier this month about a potential security threat from China over Taiwan. Beijing has now taken the issue to the United Nations, accusing Japan of making “erroneous” statements, Global Times reported.
China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, on Friday sent a formal letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlining Beijing’s position on what it called the “erroneous words and deeds” of Prime Minister Takaichi concerning Taiwan.
The letter responds to Takaichi’s November 7 comments, in which she said that any “use of force on Taiwan” by China could create a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Following those remarks, China reinstated its recently lifted ban on Japanese seafood imports and issued a travel alert for Chinese citizens visiting Japan.
Fu said in his letter that Takaichi’s comments were unprecedented since Japan’s surrender in 1945. He noted it was the first time a Japanese leader had linked Taiwan to Japan’s collective self-defense rights and suggested possible armed involvement. He described her remarks as “extremely erroneous, highly dangerous, and extremely malicious.”
He added that Japan had ignored China’s repeated protests and continued defending its position. Calling the remarks a violation of international law and a challenge to the post-war order, Fu said the statements were offensive to “more than 1.4 billion Chinese people” as well as Asian nations that suffered under Japanese aggression during World War II, Global Times reported. According to the outlet, the letter will be issued as an official UN General Assembly document and distributed to all member states.
Fu also warned that if Japan “dares to resort to armed intervention” in the Taiwan Strait, China would treat it as “an act of aggression” and exercise its right to self-defense under the UN Charter. He reminded Japan of its status as a defeated nation in World War II and said Tokyo must “deeply reflect on its historical guilt,” honor its commitments on the Taiwan issue, and withdraw its comments. He further reiterated that Japan is “totally unqualified to seek a permanent seat on the Security Council.”
Tokyo has rejected Beijing’s request for Takaichi to retract her remarks. Japanese officials have argued that their statements reflect national security concerns and are based on Japan’s assessment of regional threats.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Japan George Glass criticized China’s renewed ban on Japanese seafood imports and its travel alert for Chinese citizens. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Glass said China’s actions were “provocative” and amounted to “coercion.”
“China’s moves are very unhelpful and undermine regional stability,” he said, calling them “a classic case of Chinese economic coercion,” according to Kyodo News.
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