Overview
- China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong sent a letter to the secretary-general accusing Japan of threatening armed intervention over Taiwan and warning China would exercise its right of self-defence, with the document to be circulated to all member states.
- Japan denounced Beijing’s assertions as entirely baseless and reaffirmed that its position remains unchanged, with officials calling for dialogue and no leader-level meeting set with China at the G20.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has refused to retract her Nov. 7 remark, stressing that any decision on a “survival-threatening situation” would be based on specific circumstances under Japan’s existing legal framework.
- Beijing’s pressure has widened to exchanges and commerce, including a travel alert for Japan, a halt to resumed seafood imports and new film approvals, cancellations of concerts, and the postponement of the China–Japan–South Korea culture ministers’ meeting.
- The United States publicly backed Japan, condemning China’s steps as economic coercion, while China reinforced its stance with coast guard patrols near the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands and live-fire drills in the Yellow Sea.