Japan Protests Chinese Ambassador's Comments on Taiwan

Japan has officially protested comments made by Chinese ambassador Wu Jianghao, who warned that Japanese involvement in Taiwan's independence efforts would drag Japan into conflict. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi emphasized the need for peaceful dialogue to resolve Taiwan-related issues.

Japan has lodged a protest against the Chinese ambassador's "extremely inappropriate" comments relating to Taiwan, chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Wednesday.

Wu Jianghao, the Chinese ambassador in Tokyo, said on Monday Japanese people would be dragged into the fire if they took part in forces plotting to support Taiwan's independence and "split China", according to Japanese media reports. "We consider it to be extremely inappropriate for an ambassador stationed in Tokyo to make such a comment, and we have immediately lodged a severe protest against it," Hayashi, the top government spokesperson, told reporters at a regular news conference.

Hayashi also reiterated Japan's position that Tokyo expects issues surrounding Taiwan to be resolved peacefully through dialogue.