TOKYO, Nov 20 (Reuters) – An off-the-cuff remark by new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that triggered Japan’s biggest bust-up in years with powerful neighbour China was not meant to signal a new hardline stance.
She openly stated how Japan might react to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan. As a result, she will struggle to defuse a dispute that could hammer the economy. This information was provided by two government officials with knowledge of the matter.
China has shown its displeasure with steps designed to inflict pain on the world’s fourth largest economy. This reaction followed Takaichi’s response to an opposition lawmaker’s query. Officials said this response was unscripted and occurred during her first parliamentary grilling.
These actions include a boycott on travel. There is also a halt on imports of its seafood. Additionally, there are cancellations of meetings and cultural events.
Takaichi cannot satisfy Beijing’s core demand. Beijing wants her to retract her comment. She had said that an attack on Taiwan, the democratically-governed island claimed by Beijing, could bring a military response from Tokyo, the officials said.
“It would have been better not to say it, but it’s not incorrect,” said one of the officials, who both sought anonymity as the matter is a sensitive one.
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