“China firmly opposes and will not tolerate this. Japan must immediately rectify its position and retract these egregious remarks. Otherwise, it must bear all consequences,” Lin warned.

He questioned Tokyo’s motives, accusing Takaichi of reviving dangerous rhetoric from Japan’s past as a militarist nation.

“What are the true intentions behind Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s renewed mention of a so-called ‘existential crisis’? Does she seek to repeat the mistakes of militarism? Does she wish to antagonise the Chinese and Asian peoples once more? Does she intend to subvert the post-war international order?” he said.

Lin reiterated Beijing’s fierce opposition to any Japanese involvement in the Taiwan Strait, reacting to Takaichi’s recent meeting with a Taiwanese representative.

“Should Japan dare to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait situation, it would constitute an act of aggression, and China will strike back decisively. Those who play with fire will inevitably burn themselves,” he said.