Kyodo news agency has reported that Beijing is angered following Japan's deputy prime minister comment that the country needs to defend Taiwan, together with the United States, if the island is invaded by China. China regards Taiwan as its own territory and has never ruled out the possibility of reuniting Taiwan with the mainland forcefully.
Military exercises by China and Taiwan that took place recently across the Straits of Taiwan have also raised suspicion.
According to Kyodo, during a fundraising party by a fellow Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, Japan's deputy prime minister, Taro Aso, said:
"If a major problem took place in Taiwan, it would not be too much to say that it could relate to a survival-threatening situation (for Japan)."
Referring to the possible occurrence of an armed attack against a foreign country that is in a close relationship with Japan. Such a situation would pose a definite risk of threatening Japan's own survival, and as such, it satisfies one of the conditions that need to be met in order for Japan to exercise its right of collective self defence.
Aso added:
"We need to think hard that Okinawa could be the next."
Zhao Lijian, China's foreign ministry spokesperson said that Aso's comments:
"Harmed the political foundation of China-Japan relations... [and China] resolutely opposed [them]."
He added:
"No one should underestimate the Chinese people's staunch resolve, firm will, and formidable ability to defend national sovereignty."
China also claims a group of Japanese-controlled islets in the East China Sea. The isles are called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are located off Japan's southern island of Okinawa. They are very small and uninhabited.
Speaking of Japan's stance on the isles conflict, Aso said:
"We are closely monitoring the situation."
[h/t: Reuters]
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