Japan Institute for National Fundamentals
https://jinf.jp/

Speaking out

Takashi Arimoto

【#1312】Deport Chinese Consul General in Osaka

Takashi Arimoto ／ 2025.11.18 (Tue)


November 17, 2025

　
Chinese classics emphasize that etiquette should be prized. The Analects of Confucius include a famous passage: “Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.” This means that none should look at, listen to, speak, or do anything that is not courteous.

In an X post, a diplomat from China told the prime minister of the host country, “There is no choice but to cut off your filthy neck.” The diplomat, Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian, reportedly made the remark in response to a parliamentary comment by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on a Taiwan contingency. Unlike an ambassador, however, a consul general is charged mainly with promoting trade and cultural exchanges, and does not take on political duties.

Normally, the Chinese government should recognize him as unfit for the post and promptly have him return home. However, it might be a long time ago when China prized etiquette. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, leads the so-called “wolf warrior” diplomacy that features provocative remarks and actions. It is natural for the current Chinese government to have no self-cleaning capabilities.

Intentional verbal abuse

Xue is a junior colleague of Wang who specializes in Japanese language at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Xue, 57, is approaching the retirement age of 60, which began to be gradually raised to 63 starting this January. He may have calculated that if he utters abusive language toward Takaichi and is declared persona non grata subject to deportation, he could be seen as a hero in China and considered for a retirement age extension. It is said that no Chinese diplomat has ever been punished for being assertive rather than submissive. Within the Japanese government, some argue that rather than declaring the shallow-minded Xue persona non grata in accordance with his apparent wish, it would be better to keep him in Japan and thoroughly ignore him.

That may be true, but Japan should not set a precedent in which the country tolerates a foreign diplomat to threaten to kill the prime minister. Since Xue’s behavior deviates from that of a diplomat, he should be declared persona non grata and deported.

Enhance economic security

In response, the Chinese government will declare a Japanese consul general in China persona non grata and put pressure on Japan with various actions, such as the cancellation of visa exemption for Japanese nationals staying in China for up to 30 days. Takaichi should not only build up Japan’s defense capabilities but also accelerate her long-standing efforts to make the nation’s supply chains more resilient.

In any case, the more the Chinese government opposes the deportation of its abusive diplomat, the more China’s shame will be exposed to the rest of the world. Chinese diplomats, including Wang, had better restudy the Analects of Confucius.

Takashi Arimoto is a Planning Committee member at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals and a columnist at the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.