Chinese diplomat threatens to cut off new Japanese PM's head over Taiwan comments

A Chinese consul wide successful Japan threatened to decapitate the nation’s caller premier curate implicit her comments successful defence of Taiwan, prompting outrage successful Tokyo and underscoring the rising hostility betwixt the 2 determination powers.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took bureau past month, told a parliamentary committee Friday that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan would apt make a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan — 1 that could compel Tokyo to deploy its Self-Defense Forces successful response. The democratically governed land sits conscionable 60 miles from Japanese territory.

Xue Jian, the Chinese consul wide successful Osaka, fired backmost successful a since-deleted X station connected Sunday: "That filthy cervix that barged successful connected its ain — I’ve got nary prime but to chopped it disconnected without a moment’s hesitation. Are you prepared for that?"

Japan’s authorities condemned the statement, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara calling it "extremely inappropriate" and confirming that Tokyo had lodged a ceremonial protestation with Beijing. Kihara said Xue had made "multiple" inflammatory remarks successful the past and urged China to instrumentality disciplinary action.

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Xue Jian, Chinese consul wide successful Osaka, threatened to chopped disconnected the caput of Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi.  (Kyodo/via Reuters)

China alternatively appeared to support the diplomat. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters Monday that Xue’s words came successful effect to Takaichi’s "wrongful and dangerous" comments, which helium said misrepresented China’s presumption connected Taiwan. Lin accused Japan of "refusing to look up to its humanities responsibilities" and warned Tokyo not to interfere successful "internal Chinese affairs."

Takaichi aboriginal told reporters her comments were "hypothetical" and said she would refrain from making akin remarks successful the future.

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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese penetration of Taiwan would make a "survival threatening situation" for Japan.  (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

The occurrence threatens to strain already fraught relations betwixt Asia’s 2 largest economies. Takaichi, a nationalist known for her hawkish views connected China and adjacent ties with Washington, has sought to deepen defence practice with the Trump administration. She has pledged to propulsion Japan’s long-stagnant defence spending supra 1% of GDP and to play a much assertive relation successful maintaining stableness crossed the Taiwan Strait.

U.S. defence officials person agelong argued that Japan’s information would beryllium captious successful immoderate imaginable struggle implicit Taiwan, which Beijing sees arsenic its own.

Japan's main furniture caput Minoru Kihara said that portion the intent of the station was "not wholly clear" Xue’s remarks were "extremely inappropriate." He said Xue had made aggregate inappropriate statements and Japan has asked Beijing to instrumentality action.

Taiwan's combatant jets hole to instrumentality disconnected astatine an airbase successful Hsinchu, bluish Taiwan to show Chinese naval ships and subject planes engaged successful training.  (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

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Though the station was deleted, China backed up Xue. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said successful a quality league connected Monday his words were successful effect to Takaichi's "wrongful and dangerous" remarks connected Taiwan, urging Tokyo to "take a hard look astatine its humanities responsibilities."

Takaichi said connected Monday her comments were "hypothetical" and she would refrain from making them again.

The consulate successful Osaka could not instantly beryllium reached for comment.