Will Tokyo expel Chinese ambassador for ‘outrageous’ remarks on Japan-Taiwan ties?

The Chinese ambassador said the ‘Japanese people will be dragged into the fire’ if they continue to support Taiwan’s independence

Japanese lawmaker Jin Matsubara urges a stronger response this time after the ambassador’s similar comments last year

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China’s Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao says the “Japanese people will be dragged into the fire” if they continue to support Taiwan’s independence. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:51pm, 23 May 2024Updated: 5:56pm, 23 May 2024

A Japanese politician has called on the government to expel Chinese ambassador Wu Jianghao for threatening that “Japanese people will be dragged into the fire” if they continue to support Taiwan’s independence.

Jin Matsubara, a former chairman of the National Public Safety Commission who is currently an independent member of the Diet, attended the inauguration of Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te on May 20.

He said in a written request to the government on Tuesday that the ambassador’s subsequent comments in response to that visit were “truly outrageous”.

During a roundtable discussion at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on the day of the inauguration, Wu condemned the decision by around 30 Japanese politicians to travel to Taipei for the inauguration.

Taiwan leader William Lai Ching-te gives a speech at his inauguration ceremony on Monday in Taipei. Photo: TNS

Media reports quoted the ambassador as saying the visit showed that Japanese lawmakers were “openly siding with Taiwanese independence forces” and hinted at consequences for ordinary members of the public if Japan supported the division of mainland China.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.