On Sunday, ships from the Chinese coast guard navigated the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, claiming the operation as a “rights enforcement patrol.” This action has further heightened the already tense relations with Japan.

The incident comes amid growing dissatisfaction from Beijing towards Tokyo. The tension escalated after Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, strongly advocated for Taiwan’s independence earlier this month. Takaichi emphasized that any aggressive move by Beijing against Taiwan would prompt a military response from Japan.

In an official statement, China’s coast guard asserted, “China Coast Guard vessel 1307 formation conducted patrols within the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This was a lawful patrol operation conducted by the China Coast Guard to uphold its rights and interests.”

Following Takaichi’s November 7 declaration regarding Taiwan, Chinese authorities summoned Japan’s ambassador and issued warnings to Chinese citizens about traveling to Japan. Additionally, China’s defense ministry declared that Japanese intervention would be futile in defending Taiwan.

An aerial view of a China Coast Guard ship similar to those that passed through Japan’s Senkaku Islands. (Adrian Portugal/Reuters)

Perhaps the most provocative reaction came from China’s consul general in Osaka, who posted and later deleted a social media message that seemed to threaten Prime Minister Takaichi with decapitation.

The official, Xue Jian, wrote, “That filthy neck that barged in on its own–I’ve got no choice but to cut it off without a moment’s hesitation. Are you prepared for that?”

Japan’s government condemned the statement, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara calling it “extremely inappropriate” and confirming that Tokyo had lodged a formal protest with Beijing. Kihara said Xue had made “multiple” inflammatory remarks in the past and urged China to take disciplinary action.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi angered Beijing with a vow to protect Taiwan from attack. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

China instead appeared to defend the diplomat. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters Monday that Xue’s words came in response to Takaichi’s “wrongful and dangerous” comments, which he said misrepresented China’s position on Taiwan. Lin accused Japan of “refusing to face up to its historical responsibilities” and warned Tokyo not to interfere in “internal Chinese affairs.”

A Taiwanese fighter jet lands at an airbase in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan. ((AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying))

Taiwan’s defense ministry says it has also detected ramped up aggression from China in recent days. The self-governed island said it monitored 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships operating nearby, according to NBC News.