The Japanese government has pushed back against the latest bout of Chinese criticism over comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning a potential contingency involving neighbouring Taiwan, Kyodo News has reported.

Beijing’s objections were voiced by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference at the weekend, where the outspoken Wang argued that parliamentary remarks by Takaichi at the end of 2025 essentially amounted to a challenge to China’s sovereignty. Wang also suggested Japan risked reviving elements of its pre-war militarism – a common claim by China’s ruling Communist Party officials.

The latest exchange highlights the deterioration in relations between Tokyo and Beijing since November, when Takaichi indicated that Japan’s Self-Defence Forces could potentially respond in the event of any crisis involving Taiwan – long considered a breakaway province by Beijing although the modern state of China has never ruled the island. Beijing has repeatedly said that Taiwan must eventually be reunified with the mainland, and by force if necessary.

Tensions between China and Japan have been further heightened following the February 8 snap general election in which Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner secured a landslide win, and claimed more than two-thirds of the seats in the lower house thereby, strengthening the government’s legislative position.

Also speaking in Munich, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Toshimitsu Motegi brushed off Beijing’s characterisation of his prime minister’s comments. In doing so, Motegi described the claims as unfounded. Instead, he reiterated Japan’s longstanding position in Asia that it seeks to contribute to international peace and stability.

Meanwhile, back in Tokyo on February 16, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the government had lodged a formal protest through diplomatic channels. He argued that the Chinese statements were factually inaccurate – a claim backed up by statements from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in pointing out the lack of any historical Chinese rule over the self-governing island. Kihara stressed that Japan’s efforts to strengthen its own defence capabilities were a response to an increasingly challenging security environment in Asia, and were not aimed at any specific third country.

Kihara went on to say that Japan’s stance on Taiwan remains unchanged, with Tokyo continuing to call for the issue to be resolved peacefully through dialogue.