"Crossed the Red Line": China Criticizes Japanese PM's Taiwan Remarks

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks regarding Taiwan have crossed the "red line," stressing that Beijing must "respond firmly" to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Core of the Crisis and Chinese Escalation

• "Shocking" Comments: Wang Yi described Takaichi's statements as "shocking," referring to her November 7 comments suggesting that any Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to a military response from Tokyo.

• Official Beijing Stance: China vowed to take "firm self-defense" against Japan if it "dared to militarily intervene in the Taiwan Strait," describing any Japanese armed intervention as an "act of aggression" in a message delivered to the UN.

• Warning to Japan: The Chinese Foreign Minister urged Japan to "reflect on and correct its mistakes quickly and not continue down a wrong path."

Japan's Position

• Refusal and Commitment: The Japanese Prime Minister later refused to retract her statements, though she committed to avoiding discussion of "specific scenarios" in the future.

• Denial of Claims: A Japanese official criticized China's claims that Takaichi had altered Japan's position on the crisis, calling these claims "totally baseless."