Japan ‘crossed a red line’ with Taiwan remarks: China

Taipei: Japan “crossed a red line” with comments by its new leader suggesting a potential military intervention over Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday.

Remarks earlier this month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a Chinese naval blockade or other action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response were “shocking,” Wang said in a statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website.

“It is shocking that Japan’s current leaders have publicly sent the wrong signal of attempting military intervention in the Taiwan issue, said things they shouldn’t have said, and crossed a red line that should not have been touched,” Wang said.

The most senior Chinese official to address the tensions so far, Wang added that China must “resolutely respond” to Japan’s actions and that all countries have the responsibility to “prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.”

Takaichi’s remarks have led to rising tensions between the two countries over the past few weeks.

Beijing on Friday sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticising Takaichi’s “grave violation of international law” and diplomatic norms.

“If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression,” China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong wrote in the letter. “China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defence under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty and

territorial integrity.”