Japan "crossed the line" with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks hinting at potential military intervention in Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said today, quoted by the Associated Press, BTA reports.
Takaichi's remarks earlier this month that a Chinese naval blockade or other actions against Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan are shocking, Wang said in a statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry 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 should not have said, and crossed the line that should not have been touched," Wang said.
As the highest-ranking Chinese official to comment on the tensions so far, Wang added that China must "resolutely respond" of Japan's actions and that all parties have a responsibility to "prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism".
Takaichi's remarks have led to rising tensions between the two countries in recent weeks. On Friday, Beijing sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticizing Takaichi's "serious violation of international law" and diplomatic norms.
"If Japan dares to take armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait situation, it will be an act of aggression," Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Tsung wrote in the letter. "China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defense in accordance with the UN Charter and international law and firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
In addition, China's Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jiang, threatened on his "Ex" page to "cut off the head" of the Japanese Prime Minister, but the post was later deleted. Later, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned Chinese citizens not to travel to Japan.
At the same time, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that Tokyo is not abandoning its plans to deploy medium-range missiles on the territory of the Self-Defense Forces garrison on Yonaguni Island, located about 110 km from Taiwan, TASS reported.
"The claims that (the deployment of missiles) will increase tensions in the region are groundless", Kyodo news agency reported. However, he did not answer additional questions from journalists about how Japan would act in the event of a "military crisis in Taiwan".
Beijing considers the autonomous island of Taiwan - a former Japanese colony - its territory, which it will annex by force if necessary. China opposes the involvement of other countries in Taiwan, particularly the United States, which is the island's main arms supplier, as well as U.S. allies in Asia, including Japan and the Philippines.