China has launched a strong protest in talks with Japanese representatives in Beijing over Prime Minister Takaichi Shanae’s recent comments on Taiwan. Talks were held to ease the ongoing diplomatic dispute triggered by Takaichi’s comments.
The fallout has seen China urge its citizens not to travel to Japan, with Tokyo responding by issuing an advisory to its citizens in China as a precautionary measure.
China has maintained an absolutely zero tolerance policy toward Taiwan and doesn’t accept any mediation or even comments from the outside world.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry Official for Asia-Pacific affairs, Masaaki Kanai, travelled to China to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Liu Jinsong, in an attempt to resolve the biggest dispute between Asia's two largest economies in years.
During their consultations on Tuesday, China once objected to the comments made by Takaichi as “erroneous and miscalculated.”
The Japanese prime minister told the parliamentarians this month that Japan could intervene in the case of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
"Takaichi's fallacies seriously violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations," Mao said, adding her comments "fundamentally damage the political foundation of China-Japan relations."
The Japanese Foreign Ministry advised its citizens to avoid travelling alone to China or roaming in public places in China, as it could lead to potential attacks from Chinese citizens.
"If you see a person or group that looks even slightly suspicious, do not approach them and leave the area immediately," the embassy notice warned.
When asked about the prevailing advisory, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded by saying China was safe for foreigners.
"The Chinese government has always protected, and will continue to protect, the safety of foreign citizens in China in accordance with the law," she said.
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