Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's refusal to retract her reckless and provocative remarks about China's Taiwan region has aroused strong indignation among scholars in Taiwan.
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 force against Taiwan." Despite China's formal démarches and protests, she refused to retract her remarks that imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
"Let’s not forget that the premise of Takaichi’s response is: if Taiwan gets drawn into a war, Japan would also have to join the war. May I ask Prime Minister Takaichi, in what way is Taiwan about to be drawn into a war? Don’t you know that war is terrifying?" said Yuan Juzheng, a Taiwan professor.
"I think that Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan are merely exploiting a small group of separatist forces in Taiwan. As is well known, the current military strength of the Chinese mainland is formidable. Therefore, Sanae Takaichi's comments implying military intervention in the Taiwan Strait at most give Lai Ching-te a dose of spiritual morphine, mental stimulant. If it came to actual action, the Taiwan authorities would still face a dead end," said Wang Feng, chairman of Taipei-based China Times newspaper.
A former legislator of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party said in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Sunday that Takaichi's statements risk dragging Taiwan into a crisis it can neither afford nor control.
"Takaichi's comment did not lean on a united Taiwan, in fact, it struck at one of Taiwan's deepest internal divides. For Lai Ching-te and many in the DPP pro-independence circles, Takaichi's statement was welcomed and even celebrated. It is interpreted as a recognition that Taiwan and Japan share a common destiny, that Japan is stepping closer to defending Taiwan, and that there is a symbolic alignment of Taiwan’s own position with Japan's plan to quote and quote 'normalize its country'. For this camp, Takaichi's stance appears to validate the idea that Taiwan is part of a Japan-centered regional community, not in the past, but also in the present," said Joanna Lei, a former KMT legislator.
"For the KMT, who fought Japan in World War II, and voters who oppose formal independence, reacted with worries, not because Japan's support might be an empty promise, but because it could encourage Taiwan independence advocates to take reckless steps. For those who oppose using Japan's security guarantees to provoke China, such statements from Tokyo are symbolic gestures without solid military backing and risk dragging Taiwan into a crisis it cannot afford or control," she said.
Lei added that Takaichi's remarks are seen by many in Taiwan as a pretext for Japan to pursue military expansion -- even if it puts Taiwan’s security at risk.
"These concerns include: Japan's rhetoric may heighten tensions without translating into real action, Taiwan could become the frontline of other countries' strategic calculations, or over-reliance on Japan may weaken Taiwan's ability to manage its own cross-strait policy. For this camp, Takaichi's remark is not a security guarantee, but an excuse for Japan to expand militarily at the cost of Taiwan's security," she said.
Japanese PM's Taiwan remarks spark outrage among scholars in Taiwan
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
