Embassy break-in, Taiwan row and a diplomatic downgrade: Japan-China ties are taking dangerous turn

Diplomatic row between Japan and China escalated after a Japanese army officer was accused of breaking into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, prompting a sharp rebuke from Beijing. China went on to describe the incident as a “forceful break-in” by an active-duty officer of the Japan Self-Defence Forces. “The individual ?admitted ?that his actions were illegal and threatened ?to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel in the so-called name of God,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday. China is “deeply shocked” by the incident, ?Lin said, urging Tokyo ?to conduct a thorough investigation, punish those responsible and provide an…