How Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan remark stirred up a diplomatic storm between Japan and China - Japan moves closer to openly linking Taiwan’s security to its own as China responds with thinly veiled threat

In this photo provided by Japan’s Ministry of Defense, a Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber, center, is seen close to a YS-11EB electronic-intelligence aircraft, partly seen at left, of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force over the East China Sea on July 9, 2025.

Japan was involved in a war of words with China on Monday after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a survival-threatening situation" for Japan requiring the use of force.