Japan has not changed its position on how it determines an ‌existential threat, its ⁠top government spokesperson said ⁠on Friday, rejecting an assessment by ⁠U.S. intelligence agencies of a “significant shift” in its stance on ‌Taiwan.

The agencies ⁠said in an ​annual threat report on Wednesday that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese military response departed from the rhetoric ⁠of previous ​Japanese ​leaders.

“The government’s position ‌of judging an existential crisis situation ‌with all the information it gathers ​is consistent with the past,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary ⁠Minoru Kihara told a press briefing.

“The assessment ⁠that there has been a major shift is not accurate.”

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has responded furiously to Takaichi’s remarks, urging its people not to travel to Japan ⁠and choking ​off some exports.

Takaichi has also repeatedly maintained that ‌her stance was consistent with ​longstanding Japanese ​policy.