China’s military warned Japan against interference in Taiwan, citing the “devastating defeat” suffered by PLA forces amid rising diplomatic tensions over the Japanese Prime Minister’s comments.
Beijing: China’s Defense Ministry stepped up rhetoric on Friday over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takachi’s comments about the island, saying Japan would face a “crushing defeat” at the hands of Chinese forces if it tried to use force to intervene on Taiwan.
Takaichi sparked a diplomatic row with Beijing by commenting in parliament last week that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could be an “existential threat” and trigger a military response from Tokyo.
China’s top diplomat in Osaka shared a news article about Takachi’s remarks about Taiwan on
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said Takaichi’s words were extremely irresponsible and dangerous.
Also read: China summons Japan’s envoy over Prime Minister’s remarks regarding Taiwan Army
“Should the Japanese side fail to learn the lessons of history and dare to take risks or even use force to intervene in the Taiwan question, it will only suffer a crushing defeat against the strong-willed People’s Liberation Army and pay a heavy price,” Jiang said in a statement.
Chinese state media have also issued a series of scathing editorials and commentaries lambasting Takachi, given complaints about Japan’s wartime past and China’s extreme sensitivity over anything related to Taiwan.
The Communist Party’s People’s Daily said in a commentary on Friday that Takaichi’s remarks were in no way “isolated political rhetoric.”
The commentary, published under the pseudonym “Zhong Sheng”, said Japan’s right wing is trying to break the barriers of its constitution after World War II and regain the status of a military power, which means “voice of China” and is often used to give views on foreign policy.
“In recent years, Japan has been moving rapidly on the path of military buildup,” the newspaper said.
“From frequent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, to denying the Nanjing Massacre, to vigorously promoting the ‘China threat theory,’ Takachi’s every move follows the old footsteps of historical crime, attempting to whitewash the history of aggression and revive militarism.”
World War II and the preceding Japanese invasion of China in 1931 remain a source of ongoing tension between Beijing and Tokyo.
Beijing claims democratically ruled Taiwan and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claims and says only its people can decide the island’s future.
Taiwan is only 110 km (68 mi) from Japanese territory and the waters around the island provide an important sea route for trade on which Tokyo depends. Japan also hosts the largest US military contingent overseas.
Meanwhile, Japanese broadcaster NTV reported on Friday that the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo has instructed its staff to avoid going out due to concerns of rising anti-China sentiment.
At a regular press conference, Japan’s top government spokesman Minoru Kihara reiterated the country’s position on Taiwan and told reporters that Tokyo hopes to resolve the issue peacefully through dialogue.
,Self-directed comedy’
China has also stepped up its rhetoric against what it calls “radical” Taiwan independence separatists.
On Friday, the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office criticized Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Puma Shen, who visited Berlin earlier this week. Shen said China is threatening to try to arrest him abroad, but he is not afraid.
“Taiwan independence supporters are already on their last legs and on their last legs,” said office spokesman Chen Binhua, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
A day earlier, Chinese police had issued a wanted notice and offered a $35,000 reward for two Taiwanese social media influencers whom they accused of “separatism.”
Both the influencers took to social media to poke fun at the want notice.
One of them, rapper Mannam PYC, posted a video on Friday where he tried to hand himself in to police in Taiwan.
“Why won’t Taiwan police arrest me? Does this mean everyone supports Taiwan independence?”. He wrote sarcastically.
China’s legal system has no authority or jurisdiction in Taiwan. – Reuters
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