Japan’s demand for China to “respect” Takagi Sanae sparks a terse response from China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning—far more complex than it appears at first glance.
On October 8, 2026, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning presided over a regular press briefing. During the session, a reporter from AFP relayed a message from Japan: Why does China repeatedly refer to Takagi Sanae by name without appending the title “Prime Minister”? Isn’t this a lack of respect?
Mao Ning’s reply was a single sentence: China has repeatedly clarified its position on current Sino-Japanese relations.
No explanation. No rebuttal. No diplomatic pleasantries. Translated, the essence of her statement comes down to four words: You know better.
Why is omitting a title such a significant issue in diplomatic settings?
International diplomacy follows established conventions. Bestowing official titles upon heads of state of other nations is a fundamental courtesy. But this practice rests on a crucial precondition—it must be reciprocal. The principle of diplomatic reciprocity is clear: if one side extends a privilege, the other should offer equivalent recognition, reflecting mutual symmetry and equality.
A less-than-apt analogy: Suppose your neighbor routinely throws stones into your yard, then turns around and demands you address him as “Mr. Zhang” when meeting. Would you comply?
Since assuming office, Takagi Sanae has linked the so-called “Taiwan contingency” with Japan’s own “national survival crisis,” implying potential military involvement in the Taiwan Strait. Even former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama publicly criticized these remarks as “a serious deviation from the Joint Declaration on the Normalization of Relations between Japan and China,” reiterating that the Taiwan issue is purely China’s internal affair. Within Japan, voices of reason have organized protests, describing such statements as a “serious affront to the feelings of the Chinese people.”
While persistently crossing red lines on issues concerning Taiwan, historical memory, and security policy, Japan now expects China to maintain full diplomatic courtesies. This is not diplomacy—it is a demand for double standards.
What Japan truly cares about is not “respect”
Notably, Japan chose to raise the issue of nomenclature at this particular moment. Sino-Japanese relations are currently at a critical juncture, with the root cause lying squarely in Takagi’s controversial remarks on Taiwan—responsibility for which rests entirely with Japan. Under these circumstances, Japan avoids addressing its own actions while fixating on a mere formality. This tactic essentially seeks to shift blame onto China: “See, they don’t even observe basic courtesy.”
But diplomatic etiquette is never divorced from reality. Respect is mutual; courtesy requires reciprocity. A nation subjected to repeated provocations on core interests being asked to maintain full ceremonial treatment is itself an instance of double standards.
China has an old saying: If you show me respect, I will return it tenfold. The reverse holds true as well.
My view: Japan’s preoccupation with formalities while evading the substance of its own policies is fundamentally misplaced. Genuine respect is not built through titular forms but through concrete actions—adherence to bilateral political documents, acknowledgment of history, and non-interference in internal affairs. Demanding full diplomatic honors while consistently generating friction constitutes a contradiction in practice.
The crux of today’s Sino-Japanese relationship lies not in a title. If Japan genuinely seeks to improve the atmosphere, it would do better to reflect on what actions have rendered its leader’s title “unworthy” of such recognition. A final reminder to the Japanese government: substantive sincerity, not performative gestures, is the only path toward repairing ties. Correcting erroneous conduct is the real foundation for normalization.
Finally, a question for readers: In diplomatic settings, is a change in titling a sign of disrespect—or a signal? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Takagi Sanae Current Affairs Commentary
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878475099473932/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.