China's foreign ministry summoned Japan's ambassador to Beijing on Wednesday evening for an "emergency meeting" following former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's statement that neither his country nor the US could stand by if China attacked Taiwan.
According to a statement from China's foreign ministry, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying termed Abe's words during the meeting with ambassador Hideo Tarumi "erroneous" and a violation of core rules of bilateral ties.
Abe's remarks "openly challenged China's sovereignty and expressed unwavering support for Taiwan independence forces," Hua reported.
Abe cautioned on Wednesday at a virtual address with Taiwan's Institute for National Policy Research of the grave security and economic consequences of any Chinese military action against Taiwan. He urged Beijing "not to take a wrong path."
"Military adventure would be economic suicide," the seasoned politician continued.
He claimed that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would pose a severe threat to Japan and would thus constitute an "emergency for the Japan-US alliance."
"Beijing residents, particularly President Xi Jinping, should never be in doubt about this."
When asked about the summons during a routine press briefing in Tokyo on Thursday, Japan's chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that Japan disagreed with China's move and that the Japanese government could not comment on remarks made by individuals outside the government.
"As Ambassador Tarumi stated... it is critical for China to understand that such individuals exist in Japan and that Japan cannot accept China's one-sided views on such issues," Matsuno added.
Abe, who resigned as Prime Minister last year, is the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's most extensive section and retains influence inside the party.
China regards self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to seize control of the island, formerly a Japanese colony.
Since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in 2016, Beijing has grown more brazen in asserting its rights, sending a record number of military jets into Taiwan's air defense identification zone in October.
