China says Japan ‘crossed red line’ with Taiwan military intervention remarks

Japan “crossed a red line” with comments by its new leader suggesting a potential military intervention over Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday.

Remarks earlier this month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a Chinese naval blockade or other action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response were “shocking,” Wang said in a statement posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website.

The most senior Chinese official to address the tensions so far, Wang added that China must resolutely respond to Japan's actions and that all countries have the responsibility to prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.

Takaichi’s remarks have led to rising tensions between the two countries over the past few weeks. Beijing on Friday sent a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticizing Takaichi’s grave violation of international law and diplomatic norms.

Takaichi's stance is seen as more forceful than that of previous Japanese prime ministers, who have expressed concern about China’s threat to Taiwan but haven’t publicly said how Japan would respond.

The prime minister later refused to retract her remarks but said she would avoid talking about specific scenarios in the future.