The United States characterised the diplomat’s comment as threatening.

“We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has lunged at us without a moment’s hesitation,” China’s Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, said in a post on social media website X on Nov 8.

In the post, Xue shared an article that referenced Takaichi’s comments on how Japan could respond to a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

“Are you ready?,” Xue added in the post that was subsequently deleted.

On Monday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said that while the intent of the post “was not entirely clear”, it was “extremely inappropriate”.

China’s consulate in Osaka did not immediately respond to an email request from Reuters seeking comment.

Japan’s foreign ministry and the Japanese embassy in China lodged a strong protest with Beijing and demanded the deletion of the post, Kihara said.

Asked by a reporter whether Japan would expel the envoy, Kihara said Xue had made “multiple inappropriate statements” and that Japan has made repeated representations to Beijing to take appropriate action.

Sharing the deleted post on X on Monday, U.S. ambassador to Japan George Glass said Xue had threatened Takaichi and the Japanese people.

“The mask slips – again,” Glass said.