Tokyo Urges China to 'Show Proper Respect' Over Reference to Japanese PM

Japan has urged China to "show proper respect" after a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman referred to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by name without using her official title, according to Anadolu Agency.

Japanese officials said they raised the issue directly with Beijing following the spokesman's remarks, framing the matter as one of diplomatic protocol and respect in official communications between the two governments.

A Dispute Over Diplomatic Protocol

The manner in which foreign officials and state media refer to heads of government or state is often treated as a matter of diplomatic sensitivity, with the omission of formal titles sometimes perceived as a deliberate or inadvertent slight in relations between countries.

Anadolu Agency's report does not specify the exact context in which the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman made the reference to Takaichi, nor does it detail China's response, if any, to Japan's complaint.

The episode comes against a backdrop of periodically tense diplomatic relations between Japan and China, where disputes over protocol, territorial issues and historical matters have at times strained communication between the two governments.

It remains unclear from the available report whether the issue has been resolved or whether further diplomatic exchanges on the matter are expected between Tokyo and Beijing.