Why Japan’s row with China over Taiwan escalated and how the US is getting involved

Why Japan’s row with China over Taiwan escalated and how the US is getting involved

Japan’s diplomatic row with China has widened into a full regional flashpoint, drawing in Washington and prompting strong words from both sides. As Beijing rolls out economic restrictions and hardens its language, the US has publicly aligned itself with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, signalling an unusually direct message of solidarity, the Financial Times reported.

How the diplomatic dispute erupted

The confrontation began after the remarks Takaichi made in parliament earlier this month. In response to a question on November 7, she suggested that, in theory, a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could compel Japan to respond militarily. While Japanese leaders have avoided such explicit statements for decades, her comments reflected growing concerns in Tokyo about regional security and China’s assertiveness.

Beijing reacted swiftly, describing the comments as interference in what it considers an internal matter. Chinese officials accused Japan of reviving the spectre of past militarism and warned that Tokyo was escalating tensions unnecessarily. The situation deteriorated further when China’s consul general in Osaka posted a now-deleted social media message that appeared to contain a thinly veiled death threat against Takaichi. It referred to a “filthy neck” being “cut off” if it inserted itself into China’s affairs, drawing sharp criticism in Japan.

US involvement shifts the tone

After nearly two weeks of back-and-forth accusations, the United States stepped in with unusually strong language. George Glass, the US ambassador to Japan, told reporters that President Donald Trump and the administration offered “unshakeable” support for Takaichi. He added that the US condemned what it viewed as Chinese economic coercion and bullying, echoing messages he had already posted online.

Glass’s comments were a clear signal that Washington saw the dispute as part of a wider pattern of Chinese pressure tactics in the region. By aligning itself so openly with Takaichi, the US transformed a bilateral dispute into a broader geopolitical moment, one that could shape the dynamics of both the Taiwan question and Japan’s evolving defence posture.

Beijing widens its response

China has since expanded its retaliation beyond verbal criticism. Beijing has indicated plans to block Japanese seafood imports, halted certain cultural and diplomatic exchanges, and warned its citizens against travelling to Japan. China’s foreign ministry also announced the suspension of a planned trilateral meeting with Japan and South Korea.

China’s premier Li Qiang will reportedly not meet Takaichi at the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, a pointed diplomatic snub. The commerce ministry, meanwhile, vowed to take “necessary measures” to counter what it described as provocations from Tokyo. Influential Chinese commentators have intensified their attacks, with some describing Takaichi as a destabilising figure leading Japan into “an abyss of despair”.

Why Takaichi’s comments matter

Takaichi’s remarks carry particular weight because they represent one of the clearest public acknowledgments by a Japanese prime minister that Tokyo could intervene militarily in a Taiwan crisis. Japan’s strategic position makes this a sensitive issue. Any conflict in the Taiwan Strait would almost certainly affect Japanese territory and US military bases in Japan, and Tokyo has been quietly recalibrating its defence strategy for years.

Her comments suggest a more forthright stance at a time when Japan is expanding its defence spending and strengthening security partnerships. Although officials in Tokyo say there is no clear off-ramp for the current dispute, they also argue that Japan cannot ignore the implications of a rapidly changing regional security environment.

A dispute with no easy exit

As both sides dig in, the crisis shows no sign of easing. Japan maintains that its prime minister merely articulated a realistic assessment of regional security, while China continues to frame the issue as foreign interference in its sovereign affairs. With Washington now firmly aligned with Tokyo, the confrontation has moved well beyond a bilateral spat and into the realm of broader geopolitical rivalry.

For now, diplomats see little room for compromise, leaving Asia’s two largest economies locked in a tense standoff that reflects deeper shifts in power, security, and influence across the region.