Ankara: Japan has rejected China's accusations in a letter sent to the UN chief, saying Beijing mischaracterized Tokyo's defense policy and made claims 'inconsistent with the facts,' according to Japan's envoy to the world body.

According to Anadolu Agency, in a letter submitted Monday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki asserted that Japan has consistently contributed to the peace and prosperity of the international community since the end of the Second World War. Yamazaki emphasized Japan's respect and adherence to international law, including the UN Charter, highlighting the country's role in maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order underpinned by the rule of law.

Yamazaki clarified that Japan's defense posture remains strictly defensive and passive. He stated, "Japan's fundamental defense policy is a posture of passive defense, which is exclusively defense-oriented, contrary to the Chinese side's claims." He elaborated that Japan defines, through domestic law, situations in which the right of collective self-defense recognized under the UN Charter can be exercised in a highly restrictive manner.

The ambassador further addressed recent remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, emphasizing that they reflect Japan's long-standing approach. He dismissed China's suggestion that Japan would exercise self-defense without an armed attack as 'erroneous.'

Japan also voiced criticism toward Beijing for freezing bilateral exchanges and imposing economic pressure, including restrictions on Japanese seafood imports. Tokyo described such coercive steps as unacceptable and stated its commitment to pursuing 'calm diplomacy' to address outstanding issues with China.

China's Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, had earlier written to Guterres, describing Takaichi's latest statements on Taiwan as 'provocative.' He claimed that Japan had, for the first time, signaled intent to intervene militarily in the Taiwan issue and issued what he termed a 'threat of force' toward China.

Takaichi, who assumed office last month, remarked that any Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan under its security legislation, potentially allowing the country to 'exercise the right of collective self-defense.' Her remarks faced sharp criticism from Beijing and led to reports of hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists canceling trips to Japan. Tokyo also reported that Beijing imposed a ban on Japanese seafood imports.

In a further escalation, Beijing postponed a trilateral meeting of culture ministers with South Korea and Japan, a decision that Tokyo publicly criticized.