Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) reported on November 17, 2025, that amidst heightened tensions in Japan-China relations, Japan has dispatched a senior diplomat to Beijing. Recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the Taiwan issue triggered a sensitive reaction in China, with Chinese diplomats hinting at the potential "decapitation" of the Japanese Prime Minister. While condemning Takaichi, China has increased economic and diplomatic pressure on Japan.
According to a recent report by NHK, Masaaki Kanai, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Beijing on Monday afternoon local time. He met with Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday.
The report stated that Kanai is expected to explain to China that Takaichi's remarks do not represent a change in Japan's security policy and urge China to take measures to prevent bilateral differences from affecting people-to-people exchanges. The report also said that Kanai is expected to lodge a strong protest against a post on social media by Xue Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, regarding Takaichi's remarks. Xue Jian made a "beheading" remark on social media platform X, implying his intention to "behead" the Japanese Prime Minister. Members of both the ruling and opposition parties in Japan have called for the expulsion of the consul general.
On November 7, Sanae Takaichi, during a question-and-answer session in the Japanese Diet, mentioned that if an emergency were to occur in Taiwan, accompanied by the use of force, it might meet the criteria for a "life-or-death crisis" under the security legislation, and Japan might exercise its "right of collective self-defense."
Takaichi's remarks touched a nerve in Beijing. Chinese officials and state media accused Takaichi of interfering in China's internal affairs and demanded that she retract her statements. The state-run People's Daily published a commentary on Monday, accusing Takaichi of "unrepentant" behavior. The article called her "dangerous remarks," stating that "this is not only strategic recklessness but also deliberate provocation."
China views democratic and autonomous Taiwan as a province awaiting unification and has repeatedly threatened to use force. However, Tokyo maintains that its position is consistent with previous governments. Japan does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country. Like the United States, Japan maintains a strong unofficial working relationship with Taiwan and reiterates its support for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue. However, the United States also supports Taiwan's self-defense capabilities under the Taiwan Relations Act and continues to provide weapons.
Both Japan and China have summoned each other's ambassadors to lodge protests. However, China has recently announced a series of countermeasures, exerting economic, diplomatic, and even military pressure on Japan. NHK reports that Kanai is expected to urge China to respond appropriately.
On November 14, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged Chinese tourists to avoid traveling to Japan, citing social unrest. On November 16, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also reminded Chinese tourists to avoid traveling to Japan recently.
Kyodo News reported on Monday that several large Chinese travel agencies have suspended sales of tour packages to Japan. On Monday, the Nikkei index fell slightly, with sectors related to tourism and business activities showing significant declines.
Regarding diplomacy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Monday that Chinese Premier Li Qiang "has no plans to meet with Japanese leaders" at this year's G20 summit. The G20 summit will be held in South Africa from November 22nd to 23rd. It is reported that both Sanae Takaichi and Li Qiang will attend.
In addition, the Japanese non-profit organization "Genron NPO" announced on Monday that the "Tokyo-Beijing Forum," co-hosted with China and originally scheduled to be held in Beijing later this month, has been postponed. Kyodo News reported that China considers Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary question regarding Taiwan a problem and notified her of the postponement in writing.
Military-wise, China announced on November 15th that it would conduct live-fire exercises in parts of the central Yellow Sea near Japan, from November 17th to 19th. On the morning of the 16th local time, the China Coast Guard issued a notice stating that it would patrol the waters around the disputed islands between Japan and China in the East China Sea. Japan calls these islands the Senkaku Islands, while China calls them the Diaoyu Islands.
