Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a news conference on Oct. 30 at the prime minister’s office. (Koichi Ueda)

Japan has lodged a strong protest with China over an apparent threat to behead Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a social media post by the Chinese consul general in Osaka.

“While the intent may not be clear, it must be said that such remarks are highly inappropriate coming from the head of a Chinese diplomatic mission abroad,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a news conference on Nov. 10.

Xue Jian, the consul general in Osaka, posted on X on Nov. 8: “The filthy head that recklessly sticks itself in must be cut off without a moment’s hesitation.”

It quote-posted a news article about Takaichi’s words at the Lower House Budget Committee on Nov. 7 regarding a Taiwan contingency.

Takaichi said to the effect that a Chinese military attack against Taiwan could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, which would force Japan to respond.

She was the first sitting prime minister to clearly express that stance.

The Foreign Ministry and the Japanese Embassy in China lodged the protest with Beijing on Nov. 9 and demanded the immediate removal of the post, Kihara said.

As of the night of Nov. 9, the post was no longer viewable.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass quoted-posted Xue’s post on X on Nov. 10, writing: “The mask slips—again. Just a few months ago, (Xue) compared Israel with Nazi Germany. Now, he threatens Prime Minister (Takaichi) and the Japanese people. Time for Beijing to behave like the ‘good neighbor’ it talks repeatedly about—but fails repeatedly to become.”

When asked about the possibility of requesting the expulsion of the consul general, Kihara responded: “We are aware of multiple inappropriate remarks by the consul general. We have repeatedly raised this matter with the Chinese side and strongly urged them to take appropriate action. We will continue to demand that the Chinese side provide a clear explanation.”