Japan's new conservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, warned on Nov. 7 that a Chinese move against Taiwan — including a naval blockade — could justify a Japanese military response. Beijing insists Taiwan is part of China and warns against outside interference, while the United States remains the island's main arms supplier. The comments, made less than a month into Takaichi's term, have heightened tensions and could complicate regional diplomacy and security planning.
Japan's PM Takaichi Warns China Over Taiwan, Raising China–Japan Tensions
Japan's new conservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, warned on Nov. 7 that a Chinese move against Taiwan — including a naval blockade — could justify a Japanese military response. Beijing insists Taiwan is part of China and warns against outside interference, while the United States remains the island's main arms supplier. The comments, made less than a month into Takaichi's term, have heightened tensions and could complicate regional diplomacy and security planning.
08:26 AM, 11/17/2025Conflict
Japan-China Tensions Flare After PM Takaichi's Taiwan Warning
BEIJING (AP) — Less than a month into her premiership, Japan's conservative leader, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has intensified diplomatic tensions with China by warning that a Chinese move against Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.
Speaking to a parliamentary committee on Nov. 7, Takaichi said that "a Chinese naval blockade or other measures against Taiwan could justify a Japanese military response." Her remarks underscore Tokyo's growing concern about regional security and the implications of any coercive action directed at the self-governing island.
Beijing rejects outside involvement in Taiwan — particularly by the United States, the island's main supplier of weapons — and maintains that Taiwan is part of China. Chinese officials routinely describe the issue as a domestic matter and a "red line" that other countries should not cross, and they have objected strongly to comments or actions by foreign governments they view as interference.
The exchange has strained already sensitive China–Japan ties and raised questions about how Tokyo, Washington and other regional players might respond if cross‑strait tensions escalate. Analysts say the comments could complicate diplomatic channels and military planning in East Asia, especially given Japan's evolving security posture under its new leadership.
Key quote: "A Chinese naval blockade or other actions against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response," — Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Nov. 7.