Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was "shocking" that the Japanese leader had openly sent the wrong signal regarding Taiwan. His official statement is the latest development in a dispute that has shaken relations for more than two weeks.
Wang, the highest Chinese official to speak publicly on the issue, said that Japan is crossing a red line that must not be crossed, according to a statement published on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He accused Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of trying to intervene militarily over Taiwan. Wang was referring to her Nov. 7 statement, in which she told a member of parliament that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically-ruled Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.
The conflict that followed, the biggest crisis between China and Japan in recent years, spread to trade and cultural relations. On Friday, China raised the issue with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, promising to defend itself.
Beijing considers Taiwan its territory and does not rule out the use of force to take control of the island. Taiwan's democratic government rejects Beijing's claims and says that only the people of the island can decide their future.
In a response to a letter to the United Nations, Japan's foreign ministry on Saturday rejected China's claims as "totally unacceptable" and said Japan's commitment to peace had not changed. Speaking to reporters in South Africa after attending the G20 leaders' summit, Takaichi did not mention Wang's comments or letter on Sunday, saying only that Japan remains open to dialogue with China.
"We are not closing the door. But it is important that Japan clearly says what needs to be said," she said. She added that she did not speak with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, who was also in Johannesburg for a meeting.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the letter sent to the United Nations on Sunday.
"The letter not only contains gross and unreasonable allegations, but also maliciously distorts historical facts. Moreover, it violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force in international relations," the announcement states.
Wang said that in response to Japan's moves, "China must resolutely retaliate - not only to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also to defend the hard-won post-war achievements won with blood and sacrifice."
If Japan "persists on its wrong course and continues on this path," all countries and peoples have the right to "reexamine Japan's historical crimes" and to "resolutely prevent the reawakening of Japanese militarism," he said.
China is Japan's largest export market, after the United States, and in 2024 it bought about 125 billion dollars of Japanese goods, mainly industrial equipment, semiconductors and cars, according to UN COMTRADE data.
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