A Chinese diplomat issued a violent threat toward Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after she warned that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan could pose a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan.
Xue Jian, China's consul general in Osaka, Japan, posted on social media that he would "cut off a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation," in a message that included a news article describing Takaichi's remarks.
Xue's post has since been removed.
Xue said in additional social media posts that any Japanese attack on Chinese forces would trigger immediate retaliation.
Japan's government condemned the statement as "extremely inappropriate" on Monday, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara saying Tokyo lodged a formal protest.
China's Foreign Ministry accused Japan of meddling in Taiwan's affairs and warned that Tokyo's actions could damage Sino-Japanese relations by sending the wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
Takaichi affirmed her comments, saying Japan would base any decision "on all available information" before acting and rejected suggestions from Beijing that Japan was automatically aligned with Taiwan's independence.
The dispute comes amid rising tensions between Japan and China over Taiwan's status, with Japan's proximity to the island and its close alliance with the U.S. making Tokyo a key potential player in any Taiwan conflict.
The island of Taiwan, self-governing and democratic, is claimed by the People's Republic of China under its One China principle, a stance rejected by Taipei.
Analysts say Japan has historically avoided a firm public stance on Taiwan, but China's growing military assertiveness and Japan's strengthening security ties with America are shifting the region's strategic balance.
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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