TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tokyo issued a response to Beijing after Japan’s ambassador to China was summoned to protest Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remarks on a potential Taiwan conflict.

Takaichi said that Japan may be forced to intervene in a “survival-threatening situation” involving Taiwan, which prompted Beijing to summon Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi to lodge a complaint. In response, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru said Japan’s position on Taiwan has not changed, reported UDN.

Kihara said on Friday that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are important for Japan and the entire international community. He said Japan continues to hope for a peaceful resolution in accordance with the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique.

The prime minister’s remarks were clearly explained to the Chinese side, Kiharu said. The cabinet secretary also commented on China’s Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, who made threatening statements targeting the prime minister after her Taiwan comments.

Xue’s remarks were extremely inappropriate, Kiharu said, per UDN. In response, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has been advised not to attend a Japan-China friendship event organized by the Chinese consulate in Osaka, planned for Nov. 21, reported Yomiuri Shimbun.

China’s defense ministry had said Japan would suffer a “crushing defeat” if it intervenes in the Taiwan Strait, while the People's Daily newspaper accused Takaichi of seeking to revive World War II-era militarism, reported Reuters.