Tokyo, November 11: A senior Chinese diplomat in Japan has ignited a diplomatic firestorm after posting a “decapitate the Prime Minister” message on X (formerly Twitter), prompting Japanese lawmakers and media to demand the envoy’s expulsion from the country.
The now-deleted post reportedly targeted Japan’s Prime Minister in response to recent remarks on Taiwan’s security and its alignment with U.S.-led regional defense initiatives. The message quickly went viral, drawing condemnation across political lines.
“This is not free speech; it is a threat from a foreign official,” said an opposition lawmaker in Tokyo, urging the Foreign Ministry to summon the Chinese ambassador immediately.
In a sharply worded editorial, Japan’s conservative daily Sankei Shimbun called for the diplomat to be declared “persona non grata”, saying the statement “grossly violates diplomatic decorum” and “insults Japan’s sovereignty.”
The Chinese Embassy has not issued an official apology but described the post as a “personal expression made in error,” a clarification that failed to ease public anger.
Political analysts warn the incident could strain already fragile Japan-China relations, particularly as tensions over Taiwan, the East China Sea, and military exercises continue to rise.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is reportedly considering formal action if Beijing fails to recall the diplomat voluntarily.
🔎 Background:
Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have been on edge amid Japan’s vocal support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. China has repeatedly criticized Japanese officials for what it calls “interference in internal affairs.”
This latest diplomatic incident follows months of friction, including maritime confrontations around the Senkaku Islands and growing cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and the Philippines on Indo-Pacific defense.
