China-Japan Diplomatic Tension over Taiwan
- Doyoung Lim
- Dec 1, 2025
- 1 min read
Dec 1, 2025
Doyoung Lim
The current tension between China and Japan was ignited during a Japanese parliamentary meeting on 7 November. During the session, Sanae Takaichi was asked whether a contingency involving Taiwan could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Takaichi responded that it could, invoking a legal term under Japan’s security legislation. A “survival-threatening situation” refers to circumstances in which an armed attack on a foreign country poses a direct threat to Japan’s own security, allowing Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to be mobilized.
Takaichi’s remarks drew immediate criticism from Beijing because her comments referred to Taiwan in a manner that suggested it was an independent state. China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory. Xue Jian, China’s consul general in Osaka, reshared a news article about Takaichi’s statement on X with a critical comment. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, condemned Xue’s post as “highly inappropriate.”
Japan’s generally defensive stance on Taiwan reflects Taiwan’s strategic and economic significance to the country. Taiwan is one of Japan’s key trading partners, and the Taiwan Strait is a vital shipping route linking Japan. Any instability around Taiwan could disrupt trade, weaken Japan’s economic security, and strain its international relationships.
Japanese authorities continue to emphasize their support for a “peaceful resolution” to the Taiwan issue. Japan has also requested China to “take appropriate action” regarding Xue’s post. In response, China has advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan in the near future and warned that Japanese involvement in Taiwan Strait affairs would be treated as an act of aggression.
