The news article below details the assassination threat against the Japanese prime minister by a crazed Chinese diplomat.
This Chinese consul general has repeatedly made violent, provocative, and inflammatory posts in the past.
He praised Russia's invasion of Ukraine (though neither the Chinese government nor the Chinese president have officially praised it).
Furthermore, just before the voting day of Japan's recent House of Representatives election, he conducted an election campaign on X, urging voters to vote for a specific Japanese political party (he posted, "Please write 'Reiwa(れいわ)' on your ballot").
He is fluent in Japanese and posts to X entirely in Japanese.
What would happen if the Japanese ambassador or consul general to the United States were to urge the American people, even in a personal social media post, to "vote for the Democratic candidate" during a national election?
Any way you look at it, his words and actions are out of the ordinary. They make us wonder if he's addicted to drugs, mentally ill, or just plain crazy.
But how can such a person be appointed as China's Consul-General in Japan?
Despite his repeated abnormal behavior, he has not been disciplined by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Far from being disciplined, he has not even received a warning.
In that dictatorial country, if his statements go against the views of the country's president, there's no way he could maintain his position.
This mad-dog diplomat's job is to improve his country's image and make it easier for Chinese people in Japan (international students, businessmen, trainees, sports and entertainment professionals, etc.) to live and work.
In reality, however, he repeatedly behaves in the exact opposite way, further strengthening China's image as the villain of the new axis of evil (Russia, North Korea, China).
I don't know if he's a drug addict, simply seeking attention, or seriously plotting an assassination.
However, he is not a vote-grabbing demagogue, but a diplomat stationed abroad. It is not easy to attain the position of Consul General in Japan in China, a communist dictatorship. He is likely an elite within the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is no way that an impulsive, simple-minded, illiterate, stupid, and crazy person could become Consul General in Japan.
In a "normal country," he would immediately be recalled to his home country, severely punished, and forced to live in the shadows until retirement.
And yet, the above comments are being defended by a Chinese government "spokesperson."
Considering all this, one cannot help but suspect there is something ulterior motive behind this.
The Chinese are both pragmatic and realistic. It is better to consider this diplomat's comments as a self-staged farce.
Given their positions, it would be virtually impossible for China's president, prime minister, and foreign minister to refute each and every one of Takaichi's Diet responses and repeatedly make strong statements.
If those in their positions were to make provocative or inflammatory statements, they would be perceived as making "official statements" on behalf of their country, which would incite not only the people of the other country but also their own people. This would make it difficult to "put out the fire." It would also be unwise, as it would give Japan various pretexts (such as saying, "China is seriously planning to invade Taiwan, so Japan must begin preparing for war," which could be used as an excuse for military expansion).
If the ambassador to Japan were to make the above statement, it would likely become a bigger problem. Furthermore, posting it on the official Facebook or X accounts of the embassy or consulate general would be treated the same as an official statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would also be problematic.
So the "Consul General of Osaka" (who is not a top official) is being asked to post his "true feelings" on his "personal" social media account. Furthermore, the "spokesperson" is putting on a farce by defending the social media comments. There is no need for the Chinese president or foreign minister to issue comments defending an individual's social media posts.
In reality, I believe he is acting under instructions and control from higher up.
I don't believe that some playful foreign ministry bureaucrat is repeatedly posting comments with the aim of currying favor with his superiors (in the hope that the president or foreign minister will be pleased).
This kind of "self-staged" behavior is not uncommon in authoritarian countries.
What I find problematic are the US president's comments (see below).
I don't watch American television programs, so I don't know what the president said before and after, or the context of his conversation with the host, but the comments below can only be interpreted as a defense of China.
He mentions "many allies," but Japan is the only ally that has benefited more from trade with the US than China over a long period of time.
Analyzing the above "China defense" remarks as a "Trump-style" negotiating tactic, Takaichi's stance is that, in some cases (if it is disadvantageous to Japan), she may demand renegotiations with the United States regarding the "Trump tariffs." President Trump may be implicitly warning Japan. "If you don't make concessions in the tariff (trade) negotiations, we'll side with China," he said, linking tariff negotiations with military issues in East Asia and exerting pressure on Japan.
One strategy in Trump's negotiating style is to link everything and balance out a troublesome opponent to reap the benefits.
It's also possible to imagine a "conspiracy"-like scenario.
For example, consider the following scenario:
A CIA agent (Japanese?) pays the Chinese consul general to make a post.
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The Chinese consul general posts on X, "declaring war," "threatening to assassinate the prime minister," and "threatening genocide."
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Prime Minister Takaichi's approval rating rises even further. She has a free hand. It also provides an excuse for military expansion.
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So President Trump pitches, "It would take time, money, and effort for Japan to develop and manufacture new weapons now. You wouldn't be able to make it in time for China's invasion of Taiwan. We'll sell you easy-to-use, high-performance weapons at a bargain price."
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Purchase large quantities of outdated, cheap weapons (clearance items) from the United States.
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The one who will be happiest is the United States.
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China is not seriously considering invading Taiwan, so, regardless of pretense, it doesn't care about Japan's "military expansion." Rather, China can force Japan to further waste its budget amid its massive fiscal deficit, wasting its national power. "Winning without fighting" is a cardinal rule of Sun Tzu's Art of War. China will sneer, saying, "Serves you right."
Like the conspiracy theories surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attacks, this kind of "conspiracy theory" is impossible to prove, but when you see this mad-dog diplomat posting a barrage of abusive comments, President Trump making pro-China statements, and the Chinese government defending the abusive comments, I can't help but suspect something.
In any case, there are surely many right-wing Japanese people who are grateful to this mad-dog diplomat for inciting them. Even more than that, aren't there many people in the American defense industry and defense bureaucrats who are extremely grateful?
When asked about the Chinese consul general who posted that he would "cut off that filthy head," US President Trump avoided criticizing China.
2025/11/11 14:08
https://www.sankei.com/article/20251111-FQMYSWJGDRJ3RKL5UNK746KCOU/
During a November 10, 2025, interview with Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump did not directly respond to a question about Xue Jian, China's Consul General in Osaka, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he would "cut off that filthy head." He likely prioritized economic relations with China and avoided provoking it.
The moderator explained the circumstances surrounding Xue's post and asked, "China is not our friend, is it?" President Trump replied, "Many of our allies are not our friends either. Our allies have benefited from trade with us more than China has."
President Trump emphasized, "I have a good relationship with China." He stated his opinion that "the key to relations with China is to negotiate from a position of strength." (Kyodo News)
"I'll cut off that filthy head," China's Consul General in Osaka said in response to Prime Minister Takaichi's response regarding a Taiwan emergency.
2025/11/9 19:48
https://www.sankei.com/article/20251109-5YOAKS4ZHBHGZNQBVPHNTFKSRI/
On November 8, 2025, Xue Jian, China's Consul General in Osaka, posted on his X account, "We have no choice but to cut off that filthy head that has intruded on us without a moment's hesitation. Is Takaichi ready?"
As of 7:30 PM on the 9th, the content posted by Xue Jian, China's Consul General in Osaka, on November 8th, could not be confirmed.
Sankei Shimbun called the Osaka Consulate General to confirm the facts and intent, but was unable to reach him.
"Don't suffer national annihilation!"
Xue Jian updated his account on November 9th, writing, "The idea that a 'Taiwan emergency is a Japan emergency' is a path to death that some foolish Japanese politicians are trying to choose." He argued, "Japan has reneged on its obligation to submit as a defeated nation and completely forgotten the UN Charter's former enemy country clause. This is an extremely reckless attempt."
He then added, "I hope Japan will regain a minimum of rationality and a law-abiding spirit, and never again suffer national annihilation like the one that followed its defeat in the war."
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