Japan is seeking to ease rising tensions with China by sending a senior official to the country for talks, Reuters reports. Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, is scheduled to meet Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asian Affairs Department, to clarify recent comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting that Japan could deploy the Self-Defense Forces in a Taiwan emergency. China has reacted angrily, issuing travel warnings to its citizens and urging students to carefully assess risks before studying in Japan.
The dispatch comes after China sent a coast guard “ship formation” near the disputed Senkaku Islands, known in China as the Diaoyu, on a “rights enforcement patrol.” The islets have long been a flashpoint in bilateral relations. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara criticized Beijing’s warnings, saying they contradict commitments made during Takaichi’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month. Kanai’s mission aims to stress that Takaichi’s remarks do not alter Japan’s position on Taiwan and that differences should not disrupt day-to-day exchanges.
Tensions escalated after China’s consul-general in Osaka, Xue Jian, reposted a news article referencing Takaichi’s Taiwan comments and remarked, “A dirty head that sticks itself out must be chopped off.” Some Japanese politicians have called for Xue to be declared persona non grata, a move that would lead to expulsion under international law. Takaichi’s statements, delivered on November 7, broke years of precedent by suggesting that Japan might provide military support to Taiwan under extreme scenarios, such as a Chinese naval blockade of key sea lanes. While she emphasized that her comments do not contradict prior government positions, Beijing has demanded a withdrawal, which Tokyo has refused.
Amid the diplomatic spat, the Japanese public is divided. A TV Asahi survey indicated that 48% of respondents believe Japan would not need to use force in a Taiwan contingency, compared with 33% who support intervention. Meanwhile, Genron NPO, a Japanese think tank, and its Chinese partner, China International Communications Group, postponed the announcement of a joint opinion poll on bilateral perceptions, citing the strained relations. This is the second postponement in less than a month, following earlier delays after Takaichi met with former Taiwanese Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i in South Korea. The two organizations plan to hold a forum of Japanese and Chinese intellectuals in Beijing from November 22 to 24.
China continues to insist that Taiwan is a core interest and has vowed to bring the island under its control if necessary. Analysts warn that the recent developments highlight the fragility of public trust underpinning Japan-China relations, with surveys last year showing rising anti-Japanese sentiment in China and record-low perceptions of the importance of bilateral ties. Kanai’s visit is seen as an attempt to prevent further escalation while keeping diplomatic channels open amid a volatile regional situation.
