November 23, 2025 | 08:47 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations over Japan’s recent comments on Taiwan, accusing Tokyo of threatening “armed intervention” and warning that it will “firmly defend itself” if Japan interferes in the Taiwan Strait.
According to CNA News, the tensions erupted after Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, stated on November 7, 2025, that a potential Chinese attack or blockade of Taiwan could be considered a threat to Japan’s survival. This statement, she said, could justify Japan’s military response under domestic law.
Beijing’s Response
China’s Ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, sent a letter to Secretary-General António Guterres on November 21, describing Japan’s remarks as “a serious violation of international law” and an open challenge to China’s core interests.
“If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression,” Fu wrote, emphasizing that China will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity under the UN Charter.
The Japanese government dismissed Beijing’s accusations as “entirely unacceptable,” stressing that Japan remains committed to peace. Takaichi, a conservative nationalist who assumed office last month, has broken from the strategic ambiguity approach long followed by Tokyo and Washington regarding Taiwan.
Escalating Tensions Beyond Diplomacy
CNA reports that the dispute, now considered the largest bilateral crisis in recent years, has spilled into economic and cultural arenas. Beijing claims that Japan’s statements have “seriously damaged” bilateral trade cooperation, prompting the sudden cancellation of Japanese concerts in China.
Al Jazeera notes that the feud has quickly expanded into trade and diplomatic confrontations. China has imposed a travel ban to Japan, allowed Chinese airlines to offer free cancellations, suspended screenings of Japanese films, and banned some Japanese seafood imports.
A trilateral cultural ministerial meeting with Japan and South Korea has also been postponed.
Heightened Security and Symbolic Gestures
Security tensions have risen in the East China Sea. China announced patrols near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which Japan condemned as brief violations of its territorial waters.
During a bilateral meeting in Beijing on November 18, China’s representative Liu Jinsong wore a five-buttoned collarless suit historically associated with the 1919 anti-Japanese student movement, a choice Japanese media interpreted as a “symbol of resistance.”
The negotiations concluded without progress, with Beijing reiterating its demand that Japan withdraw the contested statements, which Tokyo has refused.
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