Japan and China in growing row after PM Takaichi says Taiwan conflict could trigger military deployment

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi caused Beijing to react angrily after suggesting an attack on Taiwan could trigger the deployment of her country’s self-defence forces. Photograph: Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO/Shutterstock

Japan and China are embroiled in a row about Tokyo’s potential military involvement in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.

Beijing reacted angrily this month after Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said an attack on Taiwan could trigger the deployment of her country’s self-defence forces if the conflict posed an existential threat to Japan.