China summons Japan ambassador as war of words over Taiwan drags on

BBC:

China has summoned the Japanese ambassador in Beijing over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan.

China and Japan have been locked in an escalating war of words this week, set off by Takaichi’s suggestion that Japan could respond with its own self-defence force if China attacked Taiwan.

Both countries’ foreign ministries have lodged serious protests with each other. A Chinese diplomat also made a comment which some interpreted as a threat to behead Takaichi.

The spat touches on the historical animosity between China and Japan, as well as longstanding “strategic ambiguity” on the sovereignty of self-governed Taiwan.