TOKYO — Japan summoned China’s ambassador on Friday to protest comments made by the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, escalating diplomatic tensions following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks about Taiwan.

Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi summoned Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao to lodge a “strong protest” over Xue Jian’s statements, which Tokyo described as “highly inappropriate,” according to the Foreign Ministry.

Xue wrote on platform X last weekend that he would “cut a dirty neck without a moment of hesitation” after Takaichi said that any Chinese military action against Taiwan — including a naval blockade — could constitute a “survival-threatening situation,” enabling Japan to exercise collective self-defense. The post was later deleted.

Funakoshi demanded that Beijing take “appropriate actions,” the ministry said. The meeting saw both sides restate their long-held positions, with Funakoshi countering the Chinese ambassador’s arguments.

Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Saturday that Tokyo must “respond firmly” to Xue’s remarks while continuing efforts to maintain “constructive and stable” relations with Beijing. His comments followed China’s advisory urging its citizens to avoid travel to Japan.

Separately, China summoned Funakoshi on Friday to file its own protest, with Wu accusing Takaichi of crossing a “red line” by making “blatantly provocative remarks” about Taiwan.

Tensions follow Takaichi’s statement that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Japan’s self-defense rights, a position that sparked strong backlash from Beijing. — Agencies