Arab Defense Website – November 16, 2025: In the latest diplomatic escalation between Beijing and Tokyo, China warned Japan of a “crushing military defeat” if it intervenes by force in the Taiwan issue, considering Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements as a direct threat to its interests. The Chinese warning came in conjunction with a call on its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan due to what it described as “deteriorating relations” and high risks.
On the same day, Tokyo summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest a post published by a senior Chinese diplomat online in which he addressed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in a new episode of an ongoing debate between the two parties for a week.
The row erupted after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in parliament that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could represent a “survival-threatening situation,” allowing Japan to respond militarily. This statement angered Beijing, and prompted a senior Chinese diplomat in Osaka to publish an offensive comment about Takaichi before it was deleted, which Tokyo considered “highly inappropriate” and summoned the Chinese ambassador in protest.
On the other hand, China summoned the Japanese ambassador to Beijing for the first time in more than two years, and issued a “strong protest,” warning of a “negative” shift in Tokyo’s policy, especially with discussions within Japan about enhancing military capabilities and not ruling out the possession of nuclear submarines.
Chinese state media has also escalated its tone, accusing the Japanese right wing of seeking to revive militarism and whitewashing Japan’s past in World War II, in light of continued Chinese sensitivity towards the Taiwan file.
Tension is intensifying as Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to regain it, while the island is located close to Japan and constitutes a strategic hub for the trade and energy corridors on which Tokyo depends, in addition to the presence of the largest concentration of American forces on its territory.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated during a debate in Parliament that any emergency in Taiwan could be classified as a “survival-threatening situation,” which would justify Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense, which means the possibility of Japan becoming militarily involved in the Taiwan Strait crisis.
Chinese media described these statements regarding Taiwan as “provocative” and a serious violation of the one China principle, the principles contained in the four political documents between China and Japan, and the basic rules governing international relations. Adding that it is “a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, a challenge to China’s fundamental interests, and an attack on its sovereignty. This behavior is also a mockery of international justice, a blatant provocation of the international order established after World War II, and serious harm to Chinese-Japanese relations.”
China and Japan are two important close neighbors separated by the sea, and promoting the long-term development of China-Japan relations in a sound and stable manner serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is consistent with the aspirations of the international community.
For some time now, Japan has been pushing towards a qualitative transformation in its defense strategy, rushing rapidly on the path of military expansion and rearmament, and seeking to quickly transform itself into a “state capable of waging war” without the restrictions of its pacifist constitution. It also amended the three national security documents, intensively developed offensive weapons, and raised defense spending to 2% of GDP.
Last Saturday, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Shui Jian, shared a news article about Takaichi’s statements about Taiwan on the “X” platform, and commented: “The filthy neck that involves itself in what does not concern it should be cut off,” before the post was later deleted.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry responded by summoning the Chinese ambassador, considering Choi’s statements “totally inappropriate.” Some Japanese politicians have called for the diplomat to be expelled, but Tokyo has so far limited itself to asking Beijing to “take appropriate measures” without details.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said Takaichi’s comments were “irresponsible and extremely dangerous.” He added in a statement: “If Japan fails to draw lessons from history and dares to venture out, or even intervene militarily in the Taiwan issue, it will only reap a crushing defeat before the steel-willed People’s Liberation Army, and it will pay a heavy price.”
On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador in Beijing to lodge a “strong protest” against Takaichi’s statements. This is the first time in more than two years that Beijing has summoned a Japanese ambassador, after the last time was in August 2023 following Japan’s decision to discharge the waters of the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.
The ministry on Friday also expressed “grave concern” about Japan’s recent military and security moves, including ambiguity about its non-nuclear principles. Spokesman Lin Jian said that Japan’s decision not to rule out possessing nuclear submarines indicates a major “negative” political shift. Later on Friday, the ministry called on Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan due to deteriorating relations and the “significant risks” they may be exposed to there.
Accumulation of historical injustices
Chinese state media criticized Takaichi with a series of scathing editorials, invoking historical grievances linked to Japan’s wartime past and China’s extreme sensitivity to any statement related to Taiwan, just two weeks after Xi Jinping met Takaichi in South Korea.
The People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, said in a commentary published under the name “Zhong Sheng” (meaning “Voice of China”) that Takaichi’s statements were not “isolated political speech.” She added that the Japanese right seeks to get rid of the restrictions imposed by the Constitution after World War II and return Japan to the path of military power.
The newspaper explained: “In recent years, Japan has rushed recklessly on the path of military expansion… From repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, to denial of the Nanjing Massacre, to vigorously promoting the theory of the ‘Chinese threat’, Takaichi’s steps follow the traces of historical sins, seeking to whitewash the record of aggression and revive militarism.”
World War II and Japan’s invasion of China in 1931 remain a constant source of tension between the two countries. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory, and has not ruled out the use of force to regain it, while the Taiwan government rejects this and asserts that its people alone decide the future of the island.
Taiwan is a little more than 110 kilometers from Japanese territory, and the surrounding waters are a vital sea lane for trade on which Tokyo depends. Japan also hosts the largest deployment of US forces outside the United States.
Japan’s NTV network reported on Friday that the Chinese embassy in Tokyo had asked its employees to avoid going out due to fears of rising anti-China sentiment.
During a press conference, Japanese government chief spokesman Minoru Kihara stressed his country’s position on Taiwan, saying that Tokyo hopes for a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue.
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