Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous remarks about China's Taiwan have sparked growing backlash within Japan's political establishment, with multiple senior figures, including former prime ministers, demanding she retract the unprecedented remarks.
At a Diet meeting last week, Takaichi claimed that the Japanese Self-Defense Force could exercise the right of collective self-defense if the Chinese mainland "uses military forces against Taiwan." Despite China's serious démarches and protests, she refused to retract her remarks that imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
Takaichi's erroneous and dangerous remarks have drawn heavy criticism from senior political figures at home.
Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama led the criticism, asserting that "Taiwan is China's internal affair and Japan should not interfere." His predecessor Yoshihiko Noda expressed being "deeply shocked" in an interview, noting that "this is a topic where previous prime ministers have consistently shown restraint."
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Takaichi faced renewed parliamentary questioning over her remarks, with Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chair Tomoko Tamura accusing her of "fueling a military crisis by preemptively outlining conflict scenarios in a specific region during a Diet session." Despite the criticism, Takaichi firmly maintained that there was "no need to retract" her previous statements.
Another JCP and House of Councillors member Taku Yamazoe said Friday that Takaichi's remarks had exacerbated tensions between Japan and China and led to mutual distrust. To prevent further deterioration of bilateral relations, Takaichi, as prime minister, should retract her statements, Shimbun Akahata reported on Saturday.
Yamazoe further warned in a social media post on Sunday that "delaying a resolution could worsen the situation." "The longer it takes, the bigger the problem may become," he wrote, adding that some government insiders believe "now is the turning point."
Fellow JCP member and House of Representatives member Kazuo Shii demanded once again on Friday that Takaichi retract her remarks. He said in several social media posts that Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan are evolving into a serious international issue, stressing that for Japan-China relations to develop in a positive direction, it is necessary to pursue the course based on consensus determined by both countries, by wisdom and calm dialogue, rather than making provocative remarks that further escalate tensions.
During a Diet session on Monday, Hiroshi Ogushi, a member of Japan's House of Representatives from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), urged Prime Minister Takaichi to retract her statement, a remark no sitting prime minister had previously made, as past cabinets had maintained consistent caution on the matter. Ichiro Ozawa, another member of the House of Representatives from the CDPJ, posted on the social media platform on Tuesday that "this has become a true 'existence crisis,' which ultimately forces great sacrifices on the people," and said "that is why diplomacy and politics must always remain calm."
The criticism has extended to ruling party figures, with former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba publicly questioning Takaichi's stance on Tuesday during a radio program, noting her language closely resembled the controversial "Taiwan emergency means Japanese emergency" rhetoric.
Japanese PM faces mounting domestic pressure to retract erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan
Japanese PM faces mounting domestic pressure to retract erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan
Japanese PM faces mounting domestic pressure to retract erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan
