On Monday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara complained to China about “extremely inappropriate” remarks by one of its diplomats. Two days earlier, Xue Jian, China’s Consul General in Osaka, allegedly wrote on X, “We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has lunged at us without a moment’s hesitation. Are you ready?” The post, which was later deleted, also included a link to an article in the Asahi Shimbun.
Sanae Takaichi
Takaichi Defends Comments About Taiwan
The article referenced comments made by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan last Friday. Takaichi, who took office in October following the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba, asserted that if China were to impose a naval blockade on Taiwan, it would likely constitute a “survival-threatening situation” that could force Japan to respond. She added, “The situation regarding Taiwan has become serious. We must assume the worst-case scenario.”
Asked to clarify her position in parliament on Monday, Takaichi said, “Although I did state a number of possible scenarios, I also said the government will make a comprehensive judgment on whether the situation constitutes a ‘survival-threatening situation’ taking into account all information.” She didn’t explicitly state that Japan would deploy its military in such a scenario.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Defends Xue’s Post
Xue, though, clearly saw it as a threat. At a press conference on Monday, Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson defended his post, saying it was “a response to the wrongful and dangerous remarks that attempt to separate Taiwan from China.” He added, “It is irresponsible for some Japanese politicians and media to deliberately hype the post, create confusion and divert attention.”
Unsurprisingly, Kihara saw things differently. “While the intent may not be clear, it must be said that such remarks are highly inappropriate coming from the head of a Chinese diplomatic mission abroad,” he said. US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, was more direct in his criticism of Xue. On X, he wrote, “The mask slips—again. Just a few months ago, @xuejianosaka compared Israel with Nazi Germany. Now, he threatens Prime Minister @takaichi_sanae and the Japanese people.”
Related Posts
- Sanae Takaichi: 10 Things To Know About Japan’s Next Prime Minister
- Anti-Japan Sentiment on the Rise in China
- Japan ‘Strongly Suspects’ Three Chinese Spy Balloons Entered Its Airspace
Updated On November 13, 2025
