Hands in Pocket, Hands Behind Back... Chinese Director's Manners with Japanese Official Spark Debate

China Demands Immediate Retraction of "Taiwan Emergency" Remarks
Japan Strongly Protests "Beheading" Comment as Inappropriate

The conflict between China and Japan, triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks suggesting possible intervention in the event of a Taiwan emergency, remained unresolved even during director-level consultations held in Beijing. Meanwhile, a video showing Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Asian Affairs Department at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to the Japanese side with his hand in his pocket or with his hands behind his back immediately after the talks, has been rapidly spreading online.

In the video posted at Weiyuantan Tian, Liu Jinsong, Director of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (right), and Masaki Ganai, Director of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Weiyuantan Tian

On November 18, a video capturing the moments immediately following the meeting between the two directors was posted on the official social media account "Weiyuantan Tian" operated by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. In the footage, Director Liu is seen looking down at Director Masaki Ganai with a stern expression, one hand in his pocket, while Ganai bows his head and listens to Liu's remarks.

The short video successively shows Liu responding to Ganai in a tough manner, as well as Ganai standing with a somewhat uncomfortable expression. Although the video is edited without additional context or explanation, some in Japan view it as humiliating. The fact that the footage was posted on CCTV's social media account has also led to speculation that the Chinese side intentionally released and promoted the video.

On this day, Liu and Ganai held director-level talks in Beijing. During the meeting, the Chinese side reaffirmed its position that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about intervening in a Taiwan emergency must be immediately withdrawn.

Masaaki Ganai, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left), is moving after concluding consultations with Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Asian Affairs Department at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (far right), in Beijing on the 18th. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

At a regular press briefing, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, "Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks seriously violate the 'One China' principle and the spirit of the four political documents between the two countries," and added, "They have caused strong public outrage among the Chinese people." She went on to say, "We strongly urged Japan to immediately withdraw the inappropriate remarks, cease actions that create problems, and correct its mistakes in order to protect the political foundation of China-Japan relations."

In contrast, after the consultations, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that Director Ganai strongly protested the recent "beheading of Prime Minister Takaichi" comment made by a Chinese consulate official, calling it "extremely inappropriate." The Japanese side also refuted China's advisory against travel to Japan by its citizens, stating, "There has been no change in Japan's public safety situation." Japan further requested that China ensure the safety of Japanese nationals residing in China.

This round of consultations was held amid deteriorating China-Japan relations following Prime Minister Takaichi's statement on November 7 that a Taiwan emergency could constitute a crisis threatening Japan's survival and justify the exercise of collective self-defense. Since then, China has summoned the Japanese ambassador to lodge a protest, advised its citizens to refrain from visiting Japan, and implemented a series of punitive measures, including canceling some friendship events and delaying the release of Japanese films.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.