Chinese Consul General in Osaka Sets Record for Longest Term... Thanks to Extreme Remarks?

The Mainichi Shimbun reported on August 10 that Xue Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka who previously posted an extreme remark on social media telling Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that her "head would be severed," has set a record for the longest term in office, drawing attention to the background behind it [10].

Consul General Xue is the figure who sparked controversy last November by posting on X (formerly Twitter) that "we have no choice but to sever the dirty head" while criticizing Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks implying intervention in a contingency involving Taiwan.

Although the post was deleted following protests from the Japanese government, criticism arose both inside and outside Japan that it was a highly inappropriate action for a diplomat targeting a political leader of the host country.

Mainichi explained that the background behind Consul General Xue entering his sixth year in office as of last June, marking the longest tenure in history, appears to be related to his remarks at the time.

Since the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka opened in 1976, the longest tenure among the 14 previous consuls general, excluding him, was four years and four months.

There is speculation that from the perspective of the Chinese government, replacing Consul General Xue, who strongly criticized Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks, could be interpreted by some as a demotion, and it is taking time to arrange a position that gives the impression of acknowledging his "merits," thus leading to his record-breaking tenure.

Mainichi pointed out that Consul General Xue's future path will serve as a clue to understanding the true intentions of how the Chinese government perceives his remarks.

After the controversy, he refrained from public activities for a while, but at a Lunar New Year event hosted by the consulate general in February, he reaffirmed his existing stance, stating, "Although China-Japan relations are facing a grave and complex situation, China's policy toward Japan will remain unshaken."

Last month, Consul General Xue also criticized at an event held at the consulate general under the theme of "New Thought, New Era, and New Achievements," saying, "Japan's moves toward 'neo-militarism' are becoming increasingly prominent."

(Photo: Capture from the WeChat of the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.