Beijing [China], November 23: Diplomatic tensions between Japan and China continue to escalate as Beijing continues to increase pressure on Tokyo.
CNA reported yesterday (November 22) that China has just sent a letter to the UN to protest Japan. Specifically, China accused Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of "seriously violating international law" and diplomatic norms.
"Wolf warrior" diplomacy
It was the latest development surrounding tensions between the two sides surrounding Ms. Takaichi's speech in the Japanese Parliament on November 8, asserting that if Taiwan were attacked, it could be considered "a situation threatening Japan's survival" - a legal term introduced in 2015 that allows the Japanese government to deploy the country's Self-Defense Forces to respond when that happens.
The above statement has caused a strong reaction from China over the past two weeks in the "wolf warrior" diplomatic style that observers often refer to China.
Immediately after Ms. Takaichi's speech, Mr. Xue Jian, Chinese Consul General in Osaka (Japan), wrote on social network X with quite harsh words, seemingly intended to threaten Ms. Takaichi for "meddling" in China's affairs. On November 10, spokesman Lin Jian justified that Mr. Xue's words were a reaction to Ms. Takaichi's "wrong and dangerous" comments about Taiwan.
In addition, Beijing's diplomatic agencies abroad, typically the Chinese Embassy in Manila (Philippines) on November 21 posted a number of tense images to accuse Japan of attempting to intervene militarily in the Taiwan issue. Most recently, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mr. Fu Tong, Chinese Ambassador to the UN, stated: "If Japan dares to attempt armed intervention in the cross-strait situation, it will be an act of aggression."
On the contrary, Prime Minister Takaichi recently affirmed that she would not retract the above statement. The female Prime Minister stated that her position has not changed and her statement does not represent a change in Japan's policy towards Taiwan. In fact, Ms. Takaichi's statement is not a new view of Japan. Previously, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, when he was still alive, affirmed: Taiwan's state of emergency is Japan's state of emergency. Some of Japan's islands and archipelagos are only about 100 km from Taiwan.
Decoding Beijing's moves
Responding to Thanh Nien on November 21, Dr. Satoru Nagao (Hudson Institute, USA) commented: "China is "testing fire" the new government in Japan. The situation was similar when Mr. George Bush and then Mr. Barack Obama were sworn in as US President. When Mr. Bush took office, Chinese fighter jets tried to fly very close to US reconnaissance aircraft and collided. As for Mr. Obama, Chinese ships surrounded and threatened US ships. The purpose of these activities is to test the new government's reaction and assess the opponent's ability to respond."
Professor Stephen Robert Nagy (International Christian University - Japan, scholar at the Japan Institute of International Affairs) analyzed: "China is conducting a campaign of disinformation and great pressure against Japan after Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's uncharacteristic statements that if a war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, it will affect Japan, so Tokyo must intervene militarily to protect its security interests. Beijing's reaction is reminiscent of the tactic it used against Australia in 2020 when then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison proposed an international investigation to determine the origin of Covid-19. At that time, Beijing also conducted an information campaign accusing Australia of racism. At the same time, China imposed economic sanctions against Australia. For a long time, when there is a disagreement with any country, China has always used economic pressure against the opponent. This time, if China is successful against Japan, then smaller countries will also face similar risks".
Ms. Bonnie S. Glaser (Director of the Indo-Pacific Program, German Marshall Fund in the US) said: "Beijing is pressuring Prime Minister Takaichi as a way to "set an example". She is a new leader and Beijing wants to affirm that they will not ignore any move that challenges China's core interests. Beijing may take more sanctions against Tokyo in the coming days."
Source: Thanh Nieu Newspaper