China Slams Japan Warship Transit Through Taiwan Strait
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- China accused Japan of provoking trouble by sending a Self-Defence Forces vessel through the Taiwan Strait on April 17, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stating the move compounded Japan's mistakes.
- Japan has conducted at least three Self-Defence Forces vessel transits through the Taiwan Strait since 2024, including a recent passage that Beijing says undermines regional stability and bilateral relations.
- Guo Jiakun said the Chinese military handled the Japanese vessel's transit in accordance with law and confirmed China has formally protested the action to Tokyo.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked diplomatic tensions in 2025 by suggesting Japan could deploy its military if China uses force against Taiwan, a stance she has refused to retract.
- China has imposed punitive measures on Japan, including restricting imports of dual-use items and targeting tourism, in response to Tokyo’s comments and military posture regarding Taiwan.
- China’s embassy in Tokyo reported receiving bomb threats on April 16, and an active Japanese Self-Defence Forces officer was arrested in March for breaching embassy grounds, further souring relations.
Why it matters: China’s public condemnation and legal response to Japan’s naval transit signal a hardening stance amid escalating diplomatic friction, with Beijing using concrete actions—import restrictions, protests, and security alerts—to push back against what it sees as Japanese overreach, raising the risk of further retaliatory measures.
