China is carrying out live-fire drills in the Yellow Sea and increased patrols in contested waters, the latest development in escalating China-Japan tensions following remarks by the Japanese prime minister on Taiwan last week. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) emphasized that such actions seriously undermine Indo-Pacific peace and stability, urging China to reconsider and exercise restraint.

The inciting incident occurred Friday, November 7, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a “Taiwan contingency” where China invoked a naval blockade against Taiwan could count as an existential threat to Japan, allowing them to mobilize their own military for self-defense. Her comments angered Beijing, which announced live-fire drills in the Yellow Sea from Monday (November 17) to Wednesday (November 19). Additionally, the Chinese Coast Guard announced Saturday that its Vessel 1307 was conducting “lawful patrols” in “[China’s] Diaoyu Islands.”

The Diaoyutai Islands, as they’re called in Taiwan, are a series of uninhabited islands, which China, Taiwan, and Japan all contest ownership of.

On Monday, President Lai weighed in on the situation, saying in an interview that China’s multifaceted attacks on Japan seriously undermined Indo-Pacific stability. He pressed the international community to pay attention and for China to exercise restraint and defer to rules-based international order. Lai said, “I urge China to exercise restraint and demonstrate the conduct befitting a major power, rather than becoming a troublemaker for regional peace and stability. China should return to rules-based international order which is conducive to the peace, stability, prosperity, and development of all. We urge China to reconsider.”

Regarding criticisms of Sanae Takaichi’s remarks by Taiwanese political figures, including former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and other KMT members, Lai stated that the U.S. Ambassador to Japan publicly affirmed her remarks as positively contributing to U.S.-Japan relations and regional stability. Lai asked domestic politicians, especially in the opposition party, to respect Japan’s domestic politics, pay attention to regional development, and avoid negatively interpreting Japanese political actions.