However, that demand appears unlikely to be met in the short term, and one diplomatic analyst warned that the pressure tactics should aim to avoid a nationalist backlash within Japan and win support for Beijing’s stance.
“Based on current official statements, Beijing’s pressure is likely to continue until Takaichi explicitly retracts her remarks, or the Japanese government formally articulates its ‘consistent position’ on the Taiwan issue,” said Xu Weijun, an assistant research professor with the Institute of Public Policy at the South China University of Technology.
Earlier this month, Takaichi suggested that Japan could deploy its military forces in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
It was the first time a sitting Japanese leader had spoken so explicitly about how the country might react in such a situation.
