Chinese coast guard ships sailed through the Senkaku Islands on Sunday in what they called a “rights enforcement patrol”, continuing to raise tensions with Japan.
The move is the latest sign of Beijing’s dissatisfaction with Japan, which controls the islands, after newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi came out in full force in defending Taiwan’s independence earlier this month. She vowed that any attack by Beijing on Taiwan would warrant a military response from Japan.
“The 1307 Formation of the Chinese Coast Guard conducted patrols in the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation conducted by the Chinese Coast Guard to defend its rights and interests,” the Chinese Coast Guard said in a statement.
In the days since Takaichi’s statement on Taiwan on November 7, Chinese officials have summoned the Japanese ambassador and warned Chinese citizens against traveling to Japan. The Chinese Ministry of Defense also promised that any Japanese intervention would be ineffective in protecting Taiwan.
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An aerial view of a Chinese coast guard ship like the one that sailed through Japan’s Senkaku Islands. (Adrian Portugal/Reuters)
The most vicious response came from the Chinese consul general in Osaka, who appeared to threaten to behead Takaichi in a now-deleted social media post.
The official, Xue Jian, wrote: “That filthy neck that rushed in on its own – I have no choice but to cut it off without a moment’s hesitation. Are you prepared for that?”
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The Japanese government condemned the statement, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara calling it “extremely inappropriate” and confirming that Tokyo had lodged a formal protest with Beijing. Kihara said Xue had made “several” inflammatory comments in the past and urged China to take disciplinary action.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi angered Beijing by promising to protect Taiwan from attack. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool photo via AP)
China instead appeared to defend the diplomat. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Monday that Xue’s words were in response to Takaichi’s “unlawful and dangerous” comments, which he said misrepresented China’s position on Taiwan. Lin accused Japan of “refusing to face its historical responsibilities” and warned Tokyo not to interfere in “China’s internal affairs.”
A Taiwanese fighter jet lands at an airbase in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense says it has also noticed increased aggression from China in recent days. The self-ruled island said it controlled 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships in the area NBC News.
