A social media post by Xue Jian, China’s Consul General in Osaka, has ignited a serious diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo. The controversy erupted after Xue posted inflammatory remarks on X in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s parliamentary comments on a potential Taiwan contingency.
Citing an Asahi Shimbun report on Takaichi’s remarks, Xue wrote: “For that dirty head that presumptuously extends itself over, there is no choice but to chop it off without hesitation. Are you prepared?” The post included an angry emoji and was interpreted as a direct threat related to Japan’s position that Chinese military action against Taiwan could trigger an “existential crisis” under Japan’s security laws.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted swiftly. On November 9, Masaaki Kanai, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a strong protest with the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. Although Xue deleted the post after the complaint, he posted again the same day, asserting that “if Taiwan has an incident, Japan has an incident” was a “path to death chosen by some foolish Japanese politicians,” and accused Japan—a “defeated nation”—of ignoring its obligations under the UN Charter’s enemy-state clauses.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed on November 10 that the government had verified Xue authored the posts and filed a formal protest through diplomatic channels. He called the remarks “extremely inappropriate” for a diplomatic representative, though he declined to say whether Japan would seek Xue’s removal.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Takaichi stood by her parliamentary comments during budget committee questioning, while acknowledging she would refrain from making similar hypothetical statements going forward.
Source: Radio France International, November 10, 2025
https://rfi.my/CAf3