China: Japan Crossed Line With Taiwan  11/24 06:16

   

   TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Japan "crossed a red line" with comments by its new 
leader suggesting a potential military intervention over Taiwan, Chinese 
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday.

   Remarks earlier this month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a 
Chinese naval blockade or other action against Taiwan could be grounds for a 
Japanese military response were "shocking," Wang said in a statement posted on 
the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website.

   "It is shocking that Japan's current leaders have publicly sent the wrong 
signal of attempting military intervention in the Taiwan issue, said things 
they shouldn't have said, and crossed a red line that should not have been 
touched," Wang said.

   The most senior Chinese official to address the tensions so far, Wang added 
that China must "resolutely respond" to Japan's actions and that all countries 
have the responsibility to "prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism."

   Takaichi's remarks have led to rising tensions between the two countries 
over the past few weeks. Beijing on Friday sent a letter to U.N. 
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticizing Takaichi's "grave violation of 
international law" and diplomatic norms.

   "If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait 
situation, it would be an act of aggression," China's U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong 
wrote in the letter. "China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defense 
under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty 
and territorial integrity."

   Beijing sees self-ruled Taiwan -- a former Japanese colony -- as its own 
territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. China objects to the 
involvement of other countries in Taiwan, notably the United States, which is 
the island's main supplier of weapons, as well as U.S. allies in Asia, 
including Japan and the Philippines.

   Takaichi's stance is seen as more forceful than that of previous Japanese 
prime ministers, who have expressed concern about China's threat to Taiwan but 
haven't publicly said how Japan would respond.

   The prime minister later refused to retract her remarks but said she would 
avoid talking about specific scenarios in the future.