Tokyo (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Japanese government spokesperson says Tokyo has lodged a strong protest with the Chinese consul-general in Osaka for posting an “extremely inappropriate” remark on social media about the Japanese prime minister’s remark on a possible Taiwan emergency.
As reported by Reuters, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae expressed at a Diet session on Friday that a Taiwan contingency involving the use of military strength could be interpreted as an existential situation for Japan.
What did the Chinese diplomat say about Prime Minister Takaichi?
Chinese diplomat, Consul-General Xue Jian of the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka, posted on X on Saturday that “the intruding dirty neck” must be cut off without a moment’s hesitation.
In the post, Xue shared a piece that referenced Takaichi’s remarks on how Japan could respond to a Chinese incursion on Taiwan.
“We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has lunged at us without a moment’s hesitation,”
Xue Jian said in a post on X. “Are you ready?” Xue added in the post that was subsequently deleted.
How did Japan respond to the Chinese consul’s remarks?
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru told reporters on Monday that he is aware of the post. He stated that the purpose of the post is not clear, but the comment is extremely inappropriate for the head of a Chinese diplomatic mission.
Kihara mentioned that the Japanese government urged the Chinese side to quickly delete the post, and later confirmed that the post had been removed.
The spokesperson added that Tokyo knows the consul-general has made several inappropriate comments in the past. The government has made strong requests for an appropriate response from Beijing. Kihara stated that the Japanese government will ask the Chinese side for a clear explanation regarding the latest post.
Will Japan consider expelling the Chinese consul from Osaka?
Asked by a journalist whether Japan would expel the diplomat, Kihara said Xue had made “multiple inappropriate statements” and that Japan has made repeated representations to China to take proper action.
How did the U.S. ambassador react to Xue Jian’s post?
U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass, sharing the deleted post on X, expressed that Xue had threatened Takaichi and the Japanese people.
“The mask slips – again,” Glass said.
How has China previously reacted to Japan’s political actions?
In a similar heated exchange in August 2023, China responded strongly to Japan’s release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant. It used harsh language and quickly banned Japanese seafood. This also triggered a rise in anti-Japanese sentiment on social media and nuisance calls aimed at Japanese institutions.
