This article will discuss the tensions between China and Japan that have resurfaced after the latest statement from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, in which she said that if China attacks Taiwan, the Japanese military will respond as a “situation that threatens Japan’s survival.” On November 14, 2025, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned Japanese Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi and protested against Takaichi’s statement. On November 15, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao lodged a formal protest through diplomatic channels and asserted that Takaichi’s comments violated the “One China” principle and important “political documents” between the two countries. China also issued a travel warning for its citizens to avoid Japan in response to Takaichi’s remarks. Seeing this development, the author argues that the deterioration of China-Japan relations is not just a matter of one controversial statement, but a sign of deeper escalation related to geopolitical competition, nationalist sentiment, and changes in the regional security structure. Therefore, this article will focus on three main arguments, namely, how power competition in East Asia is increasing tensions, the role of nationalism in hardening the positions of both countries, and the impact of the transformation of the regional security environment on the stability of bilateral relations.
Due to their involvement in transnational geopolitical networks, namely networks of state actors, international organizations, and strategic alliances that shape the regional power map, the competition between China and Japan in East Asia is intensifying. Any expansion of influence or military modernization undertaken by one party in this network is perceived as a threat by the other. This is consistent with the structural realism explanation that states seek to maintain their position in a competitive international system. Therefore, Japan’s actions on the Taiwan issue and China’s increased security activities must be understood as part of the competition for strategic space within the broader geopolitical network.
In addition, international defense networks such as the Regional Forum and Japan-US defense cooperation have heightened perceptions of threat between the two countries. China views Japan’s military involvement in US-led security architecture as an attempt to limit its influence. Conversely, Japan sees China’s military expansion as a challenge to regional stability and its position in the security network. Beijing immediately responded to Takaichi’s statement on Taiwan because it was seen as reflecting Japan’s increasingly proactive security orientation. In other words, the power conflict in East Asia is being heightened not only by bilateral actions, but also by the two countries’ participation in transnational security networks that increase geopolitical sensitivity.
In addition, the relationship between the two countries within the international geopolitical network involving non-regional actors such as the United States, ASEAN, and the European Union affects the competition for power in East Asia. These external actors complicate China-Japan relations while expanding the scope of competition. For example, Beijing often views Japan’s support for the Indo-Pacific security initiative as part of a containment strategy. On the other hand, China is strengthening its economic ties with Southeast Asian countries through cross-border infrastructure projects. The actions of one party always have consequences that go beyond bilateral relations because of these interconnected networks. As a result, conflicts between China and Japan are intensifying due to their involvement in overlapping geopolitical and transnational security networks.
Cross-border advocacy corridors (TAN), particularly media networks, civil society groups, and cross-border political actors, contribute to the strengthening of nationalism in China and Japan. Nationalistic narratives about sovereignty, threats, and regional identity easily spread beyond national borders and shape stronger public perceptions. Sensitive statements such as the Taiwan issue are translated in diplomatic and public spaces that are increasingly connected through digital media in this context. This creates pressure within countries for each government to show firmness in order to maintain its political legitimacy.
TANs not only spread stories, but also help strengthen political positions through the mobilization of opinion around the world. An example of this can be seen in the fact that the media in both countries often link the Taiwan issue to threats to national identity, which raises public expectations for a government response. In situations like this, both Tokyo and Beijing have few diplomatic options because any agreement may be perceived as a weakness. Therefore, international advocacy networks encourage nationalism, which leads to greater misunderstanding, reduces opportunities for dialogue, and reinforces the political stance of both countries on the sensitive issue of Taiwan.
Nationalism mediated by TANs not only shapes narratives and increases domestic pressure; it also functions as a framing mechanism that influences how the two countries view each other. This network consists of international media, policy experts, and advocacy organizations that often make interpretations that heighten perceptions of threat. For example, they may portray China’s military modernization as expansionism or Japan’s security policies as remilitarization. Such framing creates an international information space that is not always objective, prompting both countries to respond defensively or confrontational. In such circumstances, nationalism is reinforced by international advocacy networks and revived through cross-border discussions, making the political positions of China and Japan increasingly difficult to negotiate.
The security situation in East Asia is changing, creating a new and increasingly complex structure through an international security network involving allied countries, security institutions, and joint military exercise mechanisms. These changes have prompted Japan to adopt a more active security policy, while China has accelerated its defense modernization. In this situation, any action or statement related to Taiwan is viewed through the lens of this security network, which can lead to conflict even without direct military action. This means that bilateral stability increasingly depends on how each country navigates the evolving security network.
At the same time, there have been changes in the international geopolitical network covering trade, technology, and diplomacy between multilateral countries. These changes have impacted the strategic considerations of China and Japan. All countries are trying to maintain their room for maneuver due to the dominance of regional economic and political blocs, especially regarding sensitive issues such as Taiwan, which directly impact the regional architecture. China-Japan relations are now more vulnerable to shifts because any regional developments, such as increased military presence, changes in foreign policy, or changes in the positions of other countries in the region, can complicate the stability of bilateral relations. In other words, changes in the security context are structural factors that directly affect the dynamics of relations between the two countries.
The dynamics of transnational geopolitical networks involving strategic technology, supply chains, and cross-border economic competition influence changes in the regional environment in addition to changes in security networks. In recent years, China and Japan have become increasingly dependent on global networks to maintain their economic and technological strength. However, when each country implements technology protection policies or supply chain diversification to reduce dependence on one another, this interdependence creates new problems. Often, these policy changes are perceived as strategic signals, heightening perceptions of competition and suspicion. Therefore, security changes in the region are not only the result of military collaboration or alliances, but also the result of economic-technological interactions within transnational geopolitical networks.
As a result, these changes indirectly increase pressure on relations between China and Japan. Ultimately, this article was written to help people understand the dynamics of China–Japan relations amid increasingly complex regional changes. Rather than attempting to view the issue more comprehensively through a relevant theoretical framework, the analysis presented is not intended to take sides or support any particular party. Recent tensions, including the Taiwan issue, show that we need to better discuss the transnational networks that influence state behavior.
