China urges Japanese leader to retract 'egregious' remarks on Taiwan

China’s foreign ministry on Thursday demanded Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retract what it called her “egregious” remarks related to Taiwan, warning that otherwise Japan “must bear all consequences” for the comments.

BEIJING — China’s foreign ministry on Thursday demanded Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retract what it called her “egregious” remarks related to Taiwan, warning that otherwise Japan “must bear all consequences” for the comments.

Takaichi set off a diplomatic dispute with Beijing with remarks in parliament last week that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could amount to a “survival-threatening situation” and trigger a potential military response from Tokyo.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a news conference that Takaichi’s remarks represented a “crude interference” in China’s internal affairs and dealt a “heavy blow” to bilateral relations.

Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has not ruled out using force to take control of the island. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claims and says only its people can decide the island’s future.

“Should Japan dare to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait situation, it will constitute an act of aggression, and China will strike back decisively,” Lin said.