A senior Japanese diplomat is set to visit China amid an escalating row over comments made by the newly elected Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae concerning Taiwan.
Takaichi told Japan’s parliament that, in case China attacks Taiwan, Japan would also deploy its forces if the conflict poses a threat to Tokyo. The comments drew sharp criticism from the Chinese government officials, who said that “Takaichi had made malicious and unacceptable comments.”
Some Chinese officials warned that “if the comments are not retracted, then Tokyo will have to face consequences.”
The director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Kanai Masaaki, is expected to arrive in China on Monday. During the visit, Kanai is expected to meet with officials, including the Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Liu Jinsong.
It is believed Kanai intends to explain that Takaichi's remark over a Taiwan emergency did not deviate from Japan's position on Taiwan. He is expected to urge China to try to keep differences between the two countries from affecting exchanges of people.
Also Read: US-Japan sign trade pact that heralds ‘golden age’
Both Japan and China have summoned each other's ambassador to lodge a protest. Beijing recently urged Chinese nationals to avoid travelling to Japan. The Japanese government intends to watch China's moves through exchanges between senior foreign ministry officials in the hope of preventing tensions from escalating.
The situation between the two neighbours is escalating in the backdrop of Takaichi’s comments, as she is known as a China hawk in the Japanese political circles.
Also Read: PM Modi and Sanae Takaichi vow to boost India, Japan partnership
Follow us
