Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi failed to secure a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, as tensions over Taiwan continued to escalate. Takaichi, who had carefully chosen her outfit to project confidence, was unable to engage in talks aimed at resolving the diplomatic dispute.
The two leaders kept their distance during a group photoshoot on Saturday, setting a frosty tone that persisted throughout the summit. This came two weeks after Takaichi angered Beijing by suggesting Japan would be justified in military intervention if China attempted to invade Taiwan.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Takaichi reiterated her willingness to maintain dialogue but refused to retract her remarks on collective self-defence, which Beijing has demanded as a condition for de-escalation. China has since warned its citizens against travel to Japan, reimposed a ban on Japanese seafood, and postponed cultural events.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Takaichi's comments as 'shocking' and accused Japan of crossing a 'red line'. Beijing has also taken the dispute to the United Nations, with its ambassador Fu Cong warning that any Japanese armed intervention over Taiwan would be considered an act of aggression.
Despite the diplomatic fallout, a Kyodo News poll showed Takaichi's approval rating rising to 69.9%, with nearly 49% supporting Japan's right to collective self-defence in a Taiwan crisis. The row has raised fears of a repeat of the 2012 dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.
