‘The Dirty Neck … Must Be Cut Off’: Japan’s New Leader Sanae Takaichi Wastes No Time Duking It Out With China

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi started a feud with Chinese officials Friday after she claimed China’s use of force on Taiwan could threaten Japan’s survival.

Takaichi, the conservative elected as Japan’s first female prime minister in October, said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could potentially create a scenario that threatens Japan’s survival, according to The Guardian.

“The so-called Taiwan contingency has become so serious that we have to anticipate a worst-case scenario,” she informed a parliamentary committee.

The conflict escalated after China’s Consul General Xue Jian said in a now-deleted Saturday X post that China has “no choice but to cut off that dirty neck,” according to multiple reports.

“We have no choice but cut off that dirty neck that has been lunged at us without hesitation. Are you ready?” the post read.

“Are you ready?” the post continued, sharing a link to an article referencing Takaichi’s remarks, according to The Guardian. (RELATED: Laura Ingraham Presses Trump On Allowing Flood Of Chinese Students Into US)

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass shared a picture of the deleted post.

“The mask slips — again,” he said, according to a translation of his X post. He alleged that Xue had previously compared Israel to Nazi Germany, and that Xue’s post threatens Takaichi and the Japanese people.

The mask slips — again. Just a few months ago, @xuejianosaka compared Israel with Nazi Germany. Now, he threatens Prime Minister @takaichi_sanae and the Japanese people. Time for Beijing to behave like the “good neighbor” it talks repeatedly about — but fails repeatedly to… pic.twitter.com/QslQqirtPO

— ジョージ・グラス駐日米国大使 (@USAmbJapan) November 10, 2025

“Time for Beijing to behave like the ‘good neighbor’ it talks repeatedly about — but fails repeatedly to become,” Glass concluded.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Monday that Xue’s post was “extremely inappropriate.”

“While the intent of (Xue’s) post is not entirely clear, we must say the comment … was extremely inappropriate,” according to Politico.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry submitted a “strong protest” and requested that Xue’s post be deleted, according to the outlet.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Xue’s post was personal, and that it was “directed at the erroneous and dangerous remarks that attempt to separate Taiwan from China’s territory and advocate military intervention in the Taiwan Strait.”

He claimed some Japanese politicians and media were exacerbating the issue, Politico reported. Lin added that China has submitted “solemn complaints and protests” against Japan over Takaichi’s comments.