Will Tokyo expel Chinese ambassador for ‘outrageous’ remarks on Japan-Taiwan ties?

He said in a written request to the government on Tuesday that the ambassador’s subsequent comments in response to that visit were “truly outrageous”.

During a roundtable discussion at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo on the day of the inauguration, Wu condemned the decision by around 30 Japanese politicians to travel to Taipei for the inauguration.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

The ambassador’s comments were “highly inappropriate for an ambassador to Tokyo and we immediately lodged a strong protest”, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

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Matsubara’s letter points out that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations grants Japan the right, “at any time and without giving reasons” to declare a diplomat persona non grata and require the sending state to recall the individual.

“To repeat the same remarks is extremely impolite and disrespectful to the Japanese government and the recipient country,” Matsubara wrote. “I believe that Ambassador Wu should be informed that he is persona non grata this time and expelled from Japan.”

The government is scheduled to provide a written reply to the request next Friday. Matsubara has also indicated that he intends to raise the issue with Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in a foreign affairs committee meeting that day.

The Japanese government however is not expected to go as far as expelling the ambassador amid fears of tit-for-tat action.