US Ambassador Calls Out Chinese Counterpart Over X Post: 'Untrained Puppy'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The United States ambassador to Japan strongly rebuked a top Chinese diplomat in Japan over a social media post comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The now-deleted post was made on June 14, one day after Israel launched attacks on military and nuclear targets in Iran, sparking the ongoing conflict. Tel Aviv claimed the country was racing toward developing an atomic bomb.
While China has called for de-escalation by all parties, it has been especially critical of Israel and voiced support for Iran's right to self-defense. Chinese officials have also repeatedly criticized Israel's conduct during its campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
What To Know
In a Japanese-language post on X (formerly Twitter), Xue Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Osaka, presented a list of comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany, placing each under its respective national flag.
Xue wrote that while "Jews were genocided" during the Holocaust, they are today "committing genocide." Both states had "ignored international law," "invested a lot of power into [their] military," and "encouraged settlement of occupied land," he said.
The post had drawn more than 258,000 views as of the morning of June 14. A screenshot of the archived post, along with its English translation, can be seen below.
This screenshot shows Chinese Consul General Xue Jian's now-deleted Japanese-language X post from June 14, 2025, translated into English.
This screenshot shows Chinese Consul General Xue Jian's now-deleted Japanese-language X post from June 14, 2025, translated into English.
X
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass criticized Xue, saying he had "displayed a shocking level of antisemitism, ignorance, and vulgarity in a now-deleted post that compared Nazi Germany with Israel."
"He's not so much a wolf warrior as an untrained puppy," Glass added.
"Wolf warrior diplomacy" is a term that emerged in the 2010s to describe the confrontational rhetoric used by some Chinese officials. The label is drawn from a popular Chinese action film series.
The Nazis murdered some 6 million European Jews between 1941 and 1945 during World War II. Modern Israel was established following a United Nations plan to partition the territory of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.
Since Israel launched its Gaza offensive in the wake of Hamas' deadly October 2023 attack, the country has faced war crimes accusations from United Nations officials and human rights groups. Israeli officials maintain their actions target Hamas in self-defense, not civilians. Gaza's health ministry reports over 56,000 killed, including women and children.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged use of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity.
Xue Jian, Chinese Consul General in Osaka, gives a lecture in the western Japanese city on February 27, 2024.
Xue Jian, Chinese Consul General in Osaka, gives a lecture in the western Japanese city on February 27, 2024.
Kyodo via Associated Press
What People Are Saying
Gilad Cohen, Israeli ambassador to Japan, wrote on X: "The Chinese consul general in Osaka has crossed every line. His shameful incitement against Israel— invoking Nazi symbols—is not only disgraceful, it is antisemitic, dangerous, and an insult to the memory of the Holocaust."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters Tuesday: "Facts have proven that military means cannot bring peace, and dialogue and negotiation are the right way to solve the problem."
What Happens Next
U.S. President Donald Trump claims to have brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after almost two weeks of warfare. Tensions remain high, and it's unclear whether both parties will refrain from further strikes.
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'I need to tell them how much our father struggled after coming to the South and how deeply he missed his older son and daughter,' Kang said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
