No winter lasts forever, but the deep chill in the bilateral relationship between Beijing and Tokyo that was sparked when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks on Taiwan could last a long time.
Adding to the complexity and uncertainty of the situation, according to observers, has been Takaichi’s consistently high approval rating since taking office, while US President Donald Trump has remained reluctant to show open support to Japan, America’s closest ally in the region.
Against this backdrop, ties between Beijing and Tokyo have sunk to their lowest level in recent years; China unleashed economic retaliation, nationalist bashing and a diplomatic offensive against Japan following Takaichi’s remarks in parliament on November 7, when she said her country would be justified in deploying its military for “collective self-defence” along with other nations if there was conflict over Taiwan.
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Beijing has demanded that Takaichi retract her statement.
While Takaichi said she would avoid discussing specific scenarios in the future, she has not withdrawn her statement – the first time a Japanese leader has made an explicit case about Taiwan.
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Then Trump weighed in, calling Takaichi on Tuesday hours after his phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which Xi stressed that “Taiwan’s return to China” was a key part of the post-war world order.
