Tokyo issues diplomatic note to Beijing after Wang Yi’s ‘militarism’ remarks in Munich

Japan has announced that a formal diplomatic note has been delivered to Beijing following remarks made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the 62nd Munich Security Conference concerning Tokyo’s security policies toward Taiwan.

Tensions between the two powers have intensified since November 2025, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that an intervention in the Taiwan Strait would be regarded as a “situation threatening the country’s existence,” suggesting the potential use of military force.

In a statement, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong disapproval of Foreign Minister Wang’s comments during a session at the conference.

“On Feb. 14, at the Munich Security Conference, a Chinese participant made inappropriate remarks regarding the Japanese government’s security policies,” the statement read.

Asserting that China’s claims were “factually incorrect and baseless,” the Ministry noted that Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu had clearly articulated Japan’s position in a separate session. Following the event, Japan lodged a formal protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels.

During the conference session, Foreign Minister Wang recalled Prime Minister Takaichi’s earlier statements regarding military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, noting: “For the first time in 80 years, a Japanese Prime Minister has uttered these words. This rhetoric challenges China’s sovereignty and the reality that Taiwan was returned to China; it violates Japan’s commitments to China. It is impossible for China to accept such a provocation.”

Drawing a comparison to Germany, Wang noted that Berlin had undergone a total reckoning with its Nazi-era crimes after World War II, banning all rhetoric and actions that glorify Nazi ideology.

“However, Japan still pays respects to Class-A war criminals, enshrining them in temples as so-called ‘heroic souls,'” Wang said. “This indicates that there are still those in Japan eager to occupy and colonize Taiwan, and the country has yet to rid itself of the ghost of militarism.”

In addition to the diplomatic spat, a crisis involving Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and fishing rights is unfolding between the two nations.

A Chinese fishing vessel was recently seized after entering Japan’s EEZ and failing to comply with a “stop” order; its captain was subsequently taken into custody.

Following the captain’s release yesterday, Prime Minister Takaichi addressed the matter on X (formerly Twitter). Takaichi argued that the incident was a response in full compliance with legislation against illegal activities within Japan’s EEZ.

Emphasizing that the government would resolutely continue to implement sanctions to prevent and deter illegal operations by foreign fishing vessels, Takaichi stated that inspection and enforcement activities would be further strengthened.

This marks the first time since 2022 that the Japan Fisheries Agency has seized a Chinese fishing vessel.

Takaichi, who secured a victory after calling an early general election, continues to maintain a hardline stance toward China, justifying her position within the context of integration with US defense doctrine.