A Japanese leader’s offhand comments about Taiwan more than two weeks ago created such a firestorm in Beijing that the United Nations and the White House are still getting an earful.
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with President Donald Trump on Monday, and it seems the most pressing issue on the CCP leader’s mind was Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comment on Nov. 7 that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could pose a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on Monday that, during the call, Xi reminded Trump of his country’s “principled position on the Taiwan question” before gesturing vaguely towards World War II-era patriotism.
Speaking to Trump on Monday, Xi reportedly “underscored that Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order,” according to Mao. “China and the U.S. fought shoulder to shoulder against fascism and militarism. Given what is going on, it is even more important for us to jointly safeguard the victory of WWII.”
By “what is going on,” Xi was referring to his nation’s diplomatic meltdown with Tokyo, alleging that Takaichi’s reference to a “survival-threatening situation” was a veiled threat of military intervention if Beijing invades Taiwan.
A flurry of statements from Chinese officials followed — including one notable post by Xue Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, declaring that “the dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off.”
Takaichi’s government, caught off guard by the blowback of comments not intended to signal any changes to the status quo, has refused to back down.
In what has been perhaps the most sustained Taiwan-related tantrum thrown by China in recent years, Beijing’s indignation has spilled over into the United Nations.
Chinese U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong issued a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday complaining of the Japanese prime minister’s “grave violation of international law” and making clear the People’s Liberation Army was prepared to meet fire with fire.
“If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression,” Fu wrote. “China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defense under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
More regionally, it has gummed up plans for the trilateral meeting between China, Japan, and South Korea that was slated to take place this year, the 10th such gathering of the Asian powers.
Mao, speaking about the trilateral meeting on Monday, said a date has yet to be set due to a bad “atmosphere” among the nations.
“The Japanese leader’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan have damaged the foundation and atmosphere for China-Japan-ROK cooperation,” Mao said. “Conditions are not right at the moment for a trilateral summit meeting.”
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung maintains no illusions about his country’s position in the event of a conflict, telling reporters on Sunday, “if both the U.S. and China pull simultaneously, we might end up as shrimp caught in the middle.”
Xi’s outreach to the White House on the matter seems to signal that the Chinese Communist Party sees Takaichi’s government as a serious threat to its explicit plans for taking Taiwan under Beijing control in the coming years.
Japan is among the most crucial allies of the United States and is invaluable for the American military in East Asia.
CONGRESS ESCALATES TENSIONS WITH CHINA OVER RELIGIOUS OPPRESSION
Following several years of political instability in the Japanese Diet, Takaichi has recommitted Japan to its special relationship with the U.S. via gushing overtures to Trump, presents, and shared appreciation for deceased statesman and Trump ally Shinzo Abe.
However, firmly backing Japan against Chinese accusations could cost the White House its recently inked deal with Beijing, which normalized trade relations earlier this month with some key economic wins for the U.S.
Trump has previously claimed that Xi promised him not to invade Taiwan while he is in the Oval Office.
