China threatens Tokyo with 'crushing defeat'. Ambassador summoned after words about Taiwan

China's Foreign Ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador for a meeting on Friday and again demanded that the country's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi withdraw her comment about the potential involvement of the Japanese army in the event of a military crisis around Taiwan. Beijing has warned that if Japan uses force, it will suffer a “crushing defeat.”

The Kyodo agency quoted a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to which Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong warned during a conversation with Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi that “anyone who dares to interfere in any way with China's unification process will certainly face a harsh response.”

Beijing also once again called on the head of the Japanese government, Sanae Takaichi, to withdraw her statement from last week, in which she admitted that a possible attack by China on Taiwan could pose an existential threat to Japan and potentially force Tokyo to react militarily. Sun stressed that such statements “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.”

“China's 1.4 billion citizens will never bear this,” he added.

The deputy head of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that matters related to Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, “lie at the core of China's vital interests” and constitute an “inviolable red line” for the Chinese side.

The Japanese embassy in Beijing said in a statement that Kanasugi “clarified the position of the authorities in Tokyo” and “replied Beijing's arguments.” However, no details were provided.

Also on Friday, in a separate statement, China's defense ministry said Japan “will suffer a crushing defeat against the unyielding People's Liberation Army and pay a heavy price for it.”

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese ambassador on Friday to – according to the official statement – strongly protest against the “inappropriate statement of the Chinese consul general in Osaka.” Commenting on the statement of the head of the Japanese government, the consul wrote on the X platform that “we must cut off the filthy head that is attacking us without hesitation.” The diplomat later deleted his post. The government in Tokyo has so far not acceded to numerous appeals in the country to expel the consul.

Reuters emphasized that the Japanese prime minister is portrayed in the Chinese government media as a nationalist, and the lack of a congratulatory telegram from China after Takaichi was sworn in as the first woman to head the Japanese government was considered proof of the cold relations between Beijing and Tokyo.

The Chinese government has appealed to its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan following Takaichi's recent comments about Taiwan, Kyodo reported on Friday. (PAP)

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