As Sanae Takaichi's remarks about "intervening in Taiwan" push China-Japan relations to the brink, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official visited China. Afterward, a Chinese state-run outlet released a video showing the Japanese official bowing his head in front of a Chinese official with hands in his pockets, sparking controversy over "humiliation diplomacy."
On the 18th, "Weiyuantantian," a social media account affiliated with China's state broadcaster CCTV, said, "A Japanese official bowed his head and listened to what the Chinese side's official said while leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building," and released a roughly 20-second video.
The video shows Kanai Masaaki, Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs at Japan's Foreign Ministry, who visited Beijing to explain Takaichi-related remarks and defuse the situation, getting off the elevator after meeting with Liu Jinsong, Director General for Asian Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and exiting the building.
At that time, Director General Liu had both hands in his pockets, and Director General Kanai, holding a bag in one hand, bowed his head and listened with a solemn expression to what Director General Liu was saying. As they walked, Director General Liu also tapped Director General Kanai on the chest with his hand.
Director General Liu was wearing a Zhongshan suit. A badge was attached on the right chest. In China, the Zhongshan suit is regarded as combat attire, and the badge represents the state's sovereignty and symbolism. Chinese President Xi Jinping also appeared in a Zhongshan suit at a recent military parade, and it is known that the Eighth Route Army, the Chinese Communist Party's main force, wore Zhongshan suits when they went into battle during the anti-Japanese war.
Chinese internet users who saw the video reacted by saying, "Wearing a Zhongshan suit makes it look like he is ready for combat at any time," and "You can feel the imposing presence of the Chinese diplomat."
By contrast, Japanese internet users posted comments on a local outlet's shared video article, such as, "The Chinese diplomat's attitude is arrogant," and "(Director General Kanai) should have shown a more confident attitude."
Japanese media analyzed that China released the video as part of a propaganda campaign. Jiji Press reported that Director General Kanai merely listened attentively to the interpreter's explanation, but through footage framed to make it look as if he bowed his head, "China sought to project superiority."
The Asahi Shimbun said, "It is highly unusual for state media to air scenes in detail after a working-level consultation," adding that it was "intended to create the impression that Japan came to the Chinese Foreign Ministry to provide an explanation."