China strongly protests Japanese warship's provocation in the Taiwan Strait: Urges Japan to seriously reflect and correct its mistakes, and to stop at the brink.

[Global Times Report, Reporter Xing Xiaojing] In response to the passage of Japan's Self-Defense Force vessels through the Taiwan Strait, Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang stated on the 17th that we have made solemn representations to the Japanese side and expressed strong protests. The Japanese Self-Defense Force vessels stirring up trouble in the Taiwan Strait send a wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, which will only incite greater indignation among the Chinese people and further strengthen our resolve to counter the Japanese side's provocative actions.

Colonel Xu Chenghua, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, stated that from 4:02 to 17:50 on April 17, the Japanese destroyer "Amagiri" passed through the Taiwan Strait, and the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to monitor and guard throughout the entire process, implementing effective regulation and control. The theater's troops maintain a high state of readiness at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability.

On the 17th, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel "Amagiri" passed through the Taiwan Strait on that day, marking the first time this year that a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel has traversed the strait. The media cited several Japanese government officials as saying that after passing through the Taiwan Strait, the "Amagiri" will participate in military exercises jointly held by the United States and the Philippines.

"China firmly opposes this and has lodged strong protests with the Japanese side," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiajun stated on the 17th, adding that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's erroneous remarks regarding Taiwan have already caused serious impacts on China-Japan relations. The Japanese side's dispatch of Self-Defense Force vessels into the Taiwan Strait to flaunt military power and provoke intentionally is a mistake upon mistake, further exposing the dangerous plot of some individuals in Japan to attempt military intervention in the Taiwan Strait and undermine peace and stability in the region. This move severely damages the political foundation of China-Japan relations and poses a serious threat to China's sovereignty and security. Guo Jiajun said, "China once again urges the Japanese side to earnestly reflect and correct its mistakes, to stop at the edge of the cliff, to be cautious in words and actions, and not to go further down the wrong path."

On the same day, Guo Jiajun also stated at a regular press conference that in recent years, there have been continuous disturbances and provocations against Chinese diplomatic institutions in Japan, and recently there have been a series of serious incidents, including active-duty Self-Defense Force officials breaking into the embassy with knives. These incidents have occurred in succession, with severe nature and negative impact, exposing many deep-seated issues currently existing in Japan, including rampant right-wing ideologies and forces, and the suppression of objective and rational voices.

The Chinese Embassy in Japan issued a reminder on the 17th, pointing out that the public security environment in Japan has continued to deteriorate in recent years, urging Chinese citizens in Japan to pay attention to personal safety. The Chinese Embassy in Japan stated that recently, active-duty personnel of the Self-Defense Force broke into the Chinese Embassy in Japan with knives, right-wing elements openly harassed Chinese citizens watching a marathon, Chinese students were hit by "hit-and-run" drivers on the streets of Tokyo, and Hong Kong tourists were assaulted in a restaurant in Hokkaido. These incidents reflect the increasingly rampant activities of right-wing forces in Japan, with a significant increase in discriminatory cases against Chinese citizens, and the safety risks for Chinese citizens in Japan are continuously rising.

The Chinese Embassy in Japan solemnly reminds Chinese citizens in Japan to effectively enhance their safety awareness, strengthen self-protection, try to go out in groups, and avoid areas with poor public security and high foot traffic. In case of harassment or provocation by right-wing elements or "hit-and-run" drivers, it is advised to prioritize personal safety, remain calm, avoid entanglement, preserve evidence, report to the police in a timely manner, and contact the embassy or consulate in Japan for assistance.

According to Japan's Jiji Press, the National Police Agency conducted a public security-related questionnaire survey last October, which showed that 79.7% of respondents "believe that public security in Japan has deteriorated over the past decade." This percentage has increased by 3.1 percentage points from the previous year, and since the question was introduced in 2021, the proportion of people who believe public security has worsened has continued to rise.

"The deterioration of public security in Japan is the result of multiple structural factors overlapping." Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies, stated on the 17th that among them, conservative right-wing forces cater to public anxiety, promote a narrative of nationalism and a shift in security policy, exaggerate "external threats," and exacerbate social divisions; coupled with the tense China-Japan relations, the Japanese political and media circles incite "China threat theory," misleading public opinion, leading extreme individuals to translate political emotions into violent actions against Chinese citizens. He believes that the political rightward shift exacerbated under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has played a role as an amplifier and catalyst in this regard.