Japan Coercion: Is China Exploiting Takaichi’s Remarks for Escalation? | EP719

Japan condemns Chinese diplomat’s “beheading” threat
Japanese Defense Minister: Tokyo considering nuclear submarines
Fujian aircraft carrier adds new capabilities to China’s fleet
Beijing dominates Myanmar’s rare earth industry

Tensions have spiked between Tokyo and Beijing after the Chinese Consul General in Osaka posted — and later deleted — a message on X calling for the beheading of Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Takaichi Sanae. The firestorm caused by “wolf warrior” Xue Jian followed an answer by the PM to an opposition lawmaker’s question that a hypothetical Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be “survival threatening” for Japan, potentially triggering a military response. Meanwhile, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro says the country is considering nuclear submarines. It comes amid concerns about China’s expanding navy, including its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian. How should Japan respond to this diplomat’s threats? And how dangerous is China’s newest carrier? In this episode, we discuss Tokyo-Beijing ties, the shifting balance of maritime power in the Western Pacific, and China’s continued monopoly over Myanmar’s rare earth exports.

*Recorded on November 14, 2025 at 1:30pm Taiwan Standard Time

Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat
Producer: Julien Oeuillet

Our guests:

Derek J. Mitchell
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Asia Program Non-Resident Senior Advisor
Former US Ambassador to Myanmar
Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs

Randall Schriver
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
Institute for Indo-Pacific Security Board Chair
US-China Economic and Security Review Commissioner
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
US-Taiwan Business Council Board Director

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:03 - Japan Condemns Diplomat’s Threat
00:12:15 - Tokyo Considers Nuclear Subs
00:16:26 - Is Pacific Balance of Power Shifting?
00:20:25 - Can US Cut China’s Rare Earth Dominance?



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