Chinese Government's Tyrannical Nature on Full Display as It Tries to Pressure Japan

The Chinese government is escalating its criticism of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks regarding a Taiwan emergency. Meanwhile, it is stepping up its efforts to coerce Japan economically.

This vindictive conduct exposes the true nature of this authoritarian state. It is totally controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and is totally unacceptable. The Chinese government should stop demanding that the Prime Minister retract her remarks before the Diet and desist from its attempts at economic coercion.

There is a clear risk that the Chinese government will resort to further economic coercion and detention of Japanese nationals. Nevertheless, Japan must not give in to the unreasonable demands from the Chinese authorities. Doing so would lead to endless subservience to Communist China.

All of Japan needs to be vigilant to the present danger and take protective measures. Those include, to the greatest extent possible, repatriating Japanese living in China.

Reassessing Economic Relations

The Chinese government has reimposed its ban on imports of Japanese seafood. It has also urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that Takaichi's remarks had "provoked strong anger among the Chinese people." She added that "there would be no market for Japanese marine products even if they were exported to China."

It is not surprising that Minister of State for Economic Security Kimi Onoda has stated that "there are risks in relying too much on a country that will immediately resort to economic coercion if something displeases it."

This country needs to reassess its current economic relations and exchanges with China.

Doesn't the Chinese government realize that many Japanese people would be delighted if there were fewer badly behaved tourists? Footage of Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Department of Asian Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with his hands in his pockets, arrogantly talking to Masaaki Kanai, the director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, has drawn worldwide ridicule.

Masaaki Kanai (left), Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after a meeting with Liu Jinsong (front, with his hands in his pockets), of the Chinese foreign ministry's Asian Affairs Bureau. November 18 in Beijing. (©Kyodo)

It is also laughable that diplomats from a dictatorial country that cannot choose its leaders through democratic elections should claim to speak for the people. Furthermore, they employ social media like X to attack Japan, a free, democratic nation. However, within China itself, the use of that media is severely restricted.

Resorting to Threats of Physical Violence

But their insolent behavior does not stop there. Xue Jian, China's Consul-General in Osaka, went so far as to post his infamous suggestion that the Prime Minister's head should be cut off.

Furthermore, another Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson posted a diatribe on X. That spokesperson declared that "anyone who challenges China's bottom line will face a firm, direct blow." He went on to threaten that, "Their heads will be split open and they will be covered in blood in front of the Great Steel Wall that over 1.4 billion Chinese people built with their own flesh and blood."

This post made by Chinese Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, on November 8 threatens to cut off the Prime Minister's head because of her comment on the threat to Japan if China initiates a Taiwan emergency. The post could no longer be viewed as of 7:30 PM on November 9.

This is the "diplomatic" posture China has taken in criticizing Prime Minister Takaichi 's alleged "militarism." If China's leaders really want to see the face of militarism, they should look in the mirror.

*Sanae Takaichi in the National Diet. September 20 (©Sankei by Ataru Haruna)*

Defense of Japan

If the Prime Minister were to retract her remarks, the significance of the recently enacted security-related laws would all be for naught. Moreover, hollowing out of the Japan-US alliance would make it impossible to maintain Japan's security.

Even if Japan lets itself be swayed by China's current coercion and does as this authoritarian state is demanding, that would not make relations with China any easier. Having got a taste for this sort of intimidation, Beijing would undoubtedly make increasingly unreasonable demands.

The risk of a Taiwan emergency becoming a Japan emergency would also be sure to increase. The best course of action for Japan is to unite and adopt a firm stance. That includes expelling Consul General Xue Jian from our shores.

(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun