Relations between the countries have been on edge since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliamentarians earlier this month that if China invades Taiwan, Japan may intervene militarily.
According to local media, representative Masaaki Kanai, within the ministry responsible for Asia and Oceania, must inform China that Japan’s military strategy has not changed.
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Last Friday, China summoned the Japanese ambassador to discuss Takaichi’s statements. He had spoken about protecting Taiwan as a form of “collective self-defense.” According to Takaichi, an invasion of Taiwan could be seen as a threat to Japan.
Although most of Japan is about 1,200 miles from Taiwan, Japan’s westernmost island, Yonaguni, is about 70 miles from Taiwan.