Asian tensions rise as China accuses Japan of ‘leading region towards disaster’
Tensions across Asia have intensified after China issued a sharp rebuke over Japan’s plan to deploy missile systems to an island close to Taiwan, accusing Tokyo of steering the region towards catastrophe.
During a press briefing on Monday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning condemned the decision, calling it a serious provocation at a time of escalating strain between the two nations.
“This development is extremely dangerous and warrants high vigilance from neighbouring countries and the international community,” Mao warned.
She argued that Japanese political factions are deliberately pushing beyond the limits of the nation’s post-war Peace Constitution.
“Japanese right-wing forces are striving to break free from the constraints of the Peace Constitution, venturing further down the path of militarism and reckless expansion, leading Japan and the region towards disaster,” she said.
China also confirmed it has postponed a planned trilateral summit between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), saying the political conditions required for the meeting have collapsed.
Mao pointed to recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan as a major contributing factor.
“Japanese leaders have openly made erroneous remarks on the Taiwan issue, undermining the foundation and atmosphere for trilateral cooperation,” she stated. “The conditions for holding the Leaders’ Meeting are currently unfeasible.”
Beijing signalled it will now take the issue to the United Nations, accusing Japan of undermining the One-China principle.
“If Japan merely repeats that its position has not changed while remaining vague on specifics, and continuously oversteps boundaries in its actions, then such reiteration is nothing but empty words,” Mao said.
The diplomatic row has already seeped into daily life, prompting travel warnings and leading to thousands of cancelled flights on both sides as relations deteriorate further.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
