Chinese Diplomat Threatens Japanese PM Over Taiwan Defense Comments

A diplomatic storm has erupted between Asia’s two largest economies after a Chinese consul general in Japan threatened to decapitate newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her comments regarding Taiwan’s defense.

The incident began when Prime Minister Takaichi, who took office just last month as Japan’s first female prime minister, told a parliamentary committee on Friday that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan would likely create a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. She suggested such a scenario might compel Tokyo to deploy its Self-Defense Forces in response, highlighting Taiwan’s proximity—just 60 miles from Japanese territory.

In a shocking response that has since been deleted from social media platform X, Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, wrote: “That filthy neck that barged in on its own—I’ve got no choice but to cut it off without a moment’s hesitation. Are you prepared for that?”

The Japanese government swiftly condemned the statement, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara calling it “extremely inappropriate” and confirming that Tokyo had lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing. Kihara noted that Xue had made “multiple” inflammatory remarks in the past and urged Chinese authorities to take disciplinary action against the diplomat.

Rather than disciplining their representative, however, Beijing appeared to defend Xue’s threatening language. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Monday that the consul general’s words came in response to Takaichi’s “wrongful and dangerous” comments, which he claimed misrepresented China’s position on Taiwan. Lin accused Japan of “refusing to face up to its historical responsibilities” and warned Tokyo not to interfere in what China considers its internal affairs.

The diplomatic clash comes at a particularly sensitive time for Sino-Japanese relations. Takaichi is known for her nationalist and hawkish views on China, as well as her close ties with Washington. Since taking office, she has pledged to increase Japan’s defense spending above the traditional cap of 1% of GDP and to play a more assertive role in maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The prime minister has since attempted to de-escalate the situation, telling reporters her comments were “hypothetical” and indicating she would refrain from making similar remarks in the future.

Security analysts note that U.S. defense officials have long considered Japan’s participation critical in any potential conflict over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory despite the island’s democratic governance and de facto independence. Japan’s geographic position and its mutual defense treaty with the United States make it a pivotal player in regional security dynamics.

This incident underscores the increasing tensions in East Asia, where China’s assertive territorial claims and military expansion have alarmed neighboring countries. Japan, with its constitutionally limited military capabilities, has been gradually shifting toward a more proactive defense posture in response to the changing regional security environment.

The controversy also highlights the challenges facing Prime Minister Takaichi as she attempts to navigate Japan’s complex relationships with both China, its largest trading partner, and the United States, its primary security ally. Her government must balance economic imperatives with growing security concerns in an increasingly volatile region.

As of publication, the Chinese consulate in Osaka had not responded to requests for comment regarding the diplomat’s threatening statement, and no disciplinary actions against Consul General Xue have been announced by Beijing.