Is Beijing’s spat with Japan sending a message to US and allies over Taiwan?

Beijing’s recent fury directed towards Japan is hammering home a point on Taiwan to the wider world, especially the United States and its allies, analysts in mainland China have suggested.

The comments appeared to challenge Japan’s policy of strategic ambiguity about how it would respond to any crisis – something Beijing said would undermine the post-war international order.

This stance could be a “multilayered” strategic signal, according to Chen Yang, director of the Japan Research Centre at the Beijing-based think tank Haiyi Institute.

“[It] is not only aimed at Japan but also a reminder to the United States and its system of allies – including Australia and South Korea – as well as a broader range of Asia-Pacific nations: stay prudent on the so-called Taiwan contingency,” he said.