Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing after declaring that a potential use of force by the Chinese mainland in the Taiwan Strait could trigger a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. The remarks, made during a parliamentary session on November 20, 2025, mark the first major diplomatic crisis since Takaichi took office three weeks ago.
Chinese Foreign Ministry officials issued multiple protests this week, calling the statements "a grave interference in China's internal affairs." Analysts note Beijing's response included expanded naval live-fire drills near Taiwan and undisclosed economic countermeasures targeting Japanese businesses.
"This escalatory rhetoric contradicts Tokyo's longstanding 'One China' policy framework," said Sourabh Gupta, Senior Fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies. "By framing cross-strait stability as a Japanese security imperative, Takaichi risks normalizing military brinkmanship in Asia."
The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with U.S. and Chinese naval forces conducting separate exercises in the Western Pacific this month. Business leaders warn the dispute could disrupt semiconductor supply chains connecting Taiwan, Japan, and the Chinese mainland.
