中国对日本新任首相高市早苗的声明反应强烈。她在上任不到三周内公开表示，若对台湾动武，日本可能会行使集体自卫权。中国对此大为愤怒，外交辞令陡然变得尖锐甚至威胁。以习近平为首的中国高层强调，若日本介入台湾问题，将面临“毁灭性失败”，舆论也将高市早苗的言论视为对战后秩序的严重挑战。近年来日本官方多次表达台湾安全与自身存亡息息相关，此前类似言论已有先例，但这次由首相亲自表态，以及日本当前的军事扩充尤其针对中国，使局势更加紧张。

中国迅速采取经济反制措施，包括呼吁公民避免赴日旅行、劝导学生谨慎留学，并据野村研究所分析，这类举措可能使日本损失2.2万亿日元（约142亿美元）的经济利益，约占日本外国游客的五分之一为中国人。此外，中国再度暂停进口日本海产品，并限制日本电影新片在华上映。中国媒体频繁强调日本众多商品对华进口的高度依赖，暗示可能动用贸易手段，如2010年曾暂停稀土出口。

尽管中国社交媒体上对高市评价恶劣，但习近平自2012年以来，一直避免大规模反日示威，以控制民族主义情绪。高市拒绝撤回其涉台言论，双方压力陡增。随着2027年解放军对台动武能力期限临近，日本卷入台海冲突的风险在上升。两国强硬领导人对峙，未来一段时间内，日中关系极可能继续恶化。

China’s reaction to Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has been severe. Within less than three weeks of taking office, she stated that Japan might exercise collective self-defense if force is used against Taiwan. This caused a sharp escalation in China’s rhetoric, with official warnings of a “crushing defeat” if Japan intervenes, and state media calling her remarks a serious challenge to the post-1945 order. Although Japanese officials have linked Taiwan’s security to Japan’s own survival in past statements, Takaichi’s direct words, along with Japan’s ongoing military buildup mainly aimed at deterring China, have intensified tensions.

China quickly responded with economic measures: urging its citizens to avoid Japan, advising students to reconsider studying there, and issuing warnings that could cost Japan ¥2.2 trillion ($14.2 billion), a fifth of whose foreign tourists come from China. China also reinstated bans on Japanese seafood and suspended new Japanese films in cinemas. State media highlighted Japan’s high reliance on Chinese imports, hinting at potential trade retaliation, such as the 2010 rare earths embargo.

While Chinese social media heavily criticized Takaichi, Xi Jinping has avoided encouraging large-scale anti-Japanese protests since 2012 to control nationalism. Takaichi has refused to retract her comments, and pressure is mounting on both sides. With Xi’s 2027 military deadline on Taiwan approaching, the risk of Japanese involvement rises. As both countries’ nationalist leaders face off, relations are likely to worsen further.