Tokyo Calls on Beijing to Respect Japanese Prime Minister
"Even if there are differences in stances, I believe that showing proper respect to the leader of a country is a matter of course in terms of international protocol," Japanese Foreign Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura told a news conference.
Kitamura says Tokyo has delivered an "appropriate request" to Beijing but declines to provide further details.
The disagreement follows a Sept. 30 briefing in which Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun referred to the Japanese leader simply as "Sanae Takaichi."
Guo was answering a question concerning comments by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi about discussions surrounding the possible possession of nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered submarines.
He says Japan, as a country without nuclear weapons under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, has an obligation under international law to refrain from obtaining nuclear arms.
"There is no room for negotiation," he said, while noting that Takaichi had reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to its three non-nuclear principles in February.
Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have deteriorated significantly since Takaichi said in parliament last November that a Chinese military action against Taiwan could lead Japan to consider responding militarily.
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