After Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi claimed that a Taiwan "emergency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation", some Western commentators labeled China's full-spectrum diplomatic response an "overreaction". But before talking about China's reaction, we must be honest about what Japan escalated first.

"Survival crisis" is a legal war trigger under Japan's 2015 security legislation, allowing the use of force even when Japan isn't attacked. This is the first time a Japanese prime minister has implied Japan could enter a war with China over Taiwan — a matter that is purely China's internal affair.

Meanwhile, Japan is re-militarizing, mirroring the 1930s, when Japan used the logic of "existential fear" to justify its invasions. With unresolved wartime history, this is an alarm bell China cannot ignore.

And claims that China is "ungrateful" for Japan's ODA are pure gaslighting. In fact, Japan's ODA to China was not charity. Over 80% was loans, not free money. And China had to spend the money on Japanese companies, equipment and contractors. In the end, Japan earned far more from China than it ever "gave".

So, China's response is not an overreaction; it is a responsible government acting responsibly.