Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian recently posted an extremely inflammatory and undiplomatic comment on his X account. Responding to statements by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, who on Nov. 7 said that Japan might deploy the Self-Defense Forces if Communist China attacked Taiwan, Xue wrote in Japanese:
“We have no choice but to cut off that filthy head without hesitation. Prepare yourself!”
The death threat directed at the head of Japan’s government sparked outrage across the country.
According to Sankei Shimbun, Xue’s post was a comment on an Asahi Shimbun Digital article titled “PM Takaichi Says Taiwan Contingency Could ‘Develop into a Survival Threat’ — May Involve Use of Force.” He added the threatening words toward Japan’s prime minister, an act seen as a grave breach of diplomatic protocol and international norms.
Although the post was later deleted, screenshots had already been saved and widely circulated. On Nov. 9, Fukushima Prefectural Assembly member Kohei Watanabe shared the screenshot on X, writing:
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“Xue Jian’s remarks are completely unacceptable. He should be declared persona non grata and expelled from Japan.”
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) views the island of Taiwan as a renegade province, and has vowed to “reunify” it with mainland China. Taiwan maintains its de facto independence as the Republic of China (ROC), which governed all of China before being driven off the mainalnd by communist rebels in 1949.
Sankei Shimbun attempted to contact the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka for comment but was unable to reach Xue. As of 7:30 p.m. Japan time (6:30 p.m. Beijing time) on Nov. 9, the authenticity of the remarks had not been officially confirmed.
Later that day, Xue posted again, writing:
“‘A Taiwan emergency equals a Japan emergency’ — this thinking is a fatal path chosen by foolish Japanese politicians.”
He continued:
“It is an extremely reckless act that betrays the obligations of a defeated nation and completely forgets the relevant provisions in the UN Charter concerning former enemy states.” He added, “I hope Japan can recover a sense of reason and respect for the law, and never again experience the national destruction it suffered after its defeat.”
According to Akio Yaita, a Taiwan-based Japanese journalist, several Japanese lawmakers have already called for Xue to be declared a persona non grata and expelled from the country.
“I hope Prime Minister Takaichi will stand firm and not allow this kind of person to continue running rampant in Japan,” Yaita said.
He noted that the Japanese public was furious over the consul’s words:
“This is no longer just a personal opinion — it reflects Beijing’s true mindset. When a diplomat threatens to behead Japan’s prime minister, that is tantamount to declaring war on a sovereign nation.”
He added that Xue’s remarks pose a real threat to Japan’s security, stressing that “no matter one’s political position, such statements can never be tolerated.” Many Japanese called for a formal apology from Beijing and demanded that the Japanese government respond firmly.
Wolf warrior vs. samurai spirit
Yaita also pointed out that this was not Xue Jian’s first controversy. Before a Japanese parliamentary election, he publicly urged voters to support the pro-China Reiwa Shinsengumi party — a move criticized as interference in Japan’s domestic politics. He has repeatedly made insulting remarks about Japanese politicians and even warned lawmakers such as Jin Matsubara and Yuichiro Wada not to engage with Taiwan. His repeated provocations, Yaita said, show that Xue fails to grasp the decorum and restraint expected of a diplomat representing his country abroad.
Now 57, Xue previously served as Deputy Director-General of the Asian Affairs Department of China’s Foreign Ministry and became Consul General in Osaka in November 2021. He is known for his hardline “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy, frequently posting combative comments on social media seen as echoing the tone of Beijing’s aggressive foreign policy.
As previously reported by Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei, and Jiji Press, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae stressed in parliament that stability in the Taiwan Strait directly affects Japan’s national security. If China uses military force, including warships, to change the status quo, Japan would determine under its “survival threat” framework whether the situation has a vital impact on Japan’s existence. If recognized, the Self-Defense Forces could exercise collective self-defense under the 2015 Security Legislation, working in concert with allied nations.
This was Takaichi’s first formal statement on the issue since becoming Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, reaffirming the long-held principle that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency.” She said the Taiwan Strait had become the core challenge of Japan’s security policy, and vowed to strengthen crisis management and intelligence-gathering capabilities.
By Wang Jun (王君).
