China takes spat with Japan over Taiwan to UN, vows to defend itself

China has taken its widening spat with Japan to the UN, accusing Tokyo of threatening “an armed intervention” over Taiwan and vowing to defend itself in its strongest language yet in the two-week-old dispute.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi committed “a grave violation of international law” and diplomatic norms when she said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo, China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong wrote in a letter on Nov 21 to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression,” Mr Fu wrote, according to a statement from China’s UN mission. “China will resolutely exercise its right of self-defence under the UN Charter and international law and firmly defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”