Sanae Takaichi has been in the top job for less than a month, but her comments detailing what Japan could do if China invaded Taiwan has sparked a diplomatic war.<\/p>\n
“It is shocking that Japan’s current leaders have publicly sent the wrong signal of attempting military intervention in the Taiwan issue, said things they shouldn’t have said, and crossed a red line that should not have been touched,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The most senior Chinese official to address the tensions so far, Mr Wang said China must “resolutely respond” to Japan’s actions and that all countries have the responsibility to “prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was referring to comments made on November 7 in which Ms Takaichi told a questioner in parliament that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically governed Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo<\/a>.<\/p>\n The remarks have led to rising tensions between the two countries over the past few weeks, and have spread to trade and cultural relations.<\/p>\n Beijing on Friday sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticising Ms Takaichi’s “grave violation of international law” and diplomatic norms.<\/p>\n Ms Takaichi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters: Kyodo)<\/p>\n “If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression,” China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong wrote in the letter.\u00a0<\/p>\n “China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defence under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”<\/p>\n Japan remains open to dialogue<\/p>\n In response to the letter to the UN, Japan’s foreign ministry on Saturday dismissed China’s claims as “entirely unacceptable” and said Japan’s commitment to peace was unchanged.<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters in South Africa after attending the G20 leaders’ summit, Ms Takaichi on Sunday made no mention of Mr Wang’s remarks or the letter, saying only that Japan remained open to dialogue with China.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n