Japan and China Clash Over Taiwan Tensions

Japan recently shot back at China after a letter from China to the United Nations accused Japan of threatening to use force over Taiwan. Japan's ambassador to the UN, Kazuyuki Yamazaki, called the letter "inconsistent with the facts and unsubstantiated. " This all started when China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, wrote to the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, about a statement made by Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Takaichi had said that if China attacked Taiwan, Japan might respond with military action. Yamazaki clarified Japan's stance, saying that Japan's policy is "passive defense. " This means Japan won't take military action unless it is directly attacked. So, China's claim that Japan would act first is not accurate. This back-and-forth shows how tense things are between Japan and China right now. China has been very critical of Takaichi, calling her remarks a "grave violation of international law. " This has led to some problems, like concerts by Japanese musicians being canceled in China. Takaichi, however, seems to have support from the U. S. She recently spoke with U. S. President Donald Trump, who told her she could call him anytime. The situation is tricky because Taiwan is a big point of contention. China says Taiwan is part of its territory and hasn't ruled out using force to take control. Taiwan, however, says only its people can decide its future. This dispute is making things complicated for everyone involved.