Japanese scholars, media outlet criticize PM's remarks on Japan-China relations

Scholars and a media outlet in Japan have criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her erroneous remarks on Taiwan that have damaged Japan-China relations.

Takaichi have said that the Chinese central government's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and implied the possibility of Japan's armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. Despite multiple representations from China, the Japanese government has refused to retract the remarks.

Jiro Yamaguchi, professor of Hosei University in Tokyo, noted in a recent social media post that Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan is "extremely rash. It reveals the nature of a right-wing hawkish politician who is ignorant of the cruel reality of war."

Izumikawa Yuki, a researcher at Okinawa University for Institute of Regional Studies, said during a media interview that Takaichi's remarks have a very vicious influence and they do no good to the security of Japan and its people.

He said that Japan and China are important neighboring countries, and that the two sides have close economic and cultural exchanges. In case the bilateral relations and exchanges are compromised, he said, the result will be very serious.

Stressing that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, Yuki said should Japan move to interfere in China's internal affairs with force under the pretext of the so-called "survival-threatening situation," it will be no different from an act of aggression against China.

Former governor of Tokyo Yoichi Masuzoe said that international law clearly defines that Taiwan is part of China, so an armed intervention by Japan in the Taiwan Strait will constitute an act of aggression.

A Japanese media outlet also criticized the Japanese prime minister, saying that her remarks would lead to "fundamental disruption" of Japan's pacifist constitution, or push the government to infinitely expand the use of military, thereby leading the country into war.

Japanese scholars, media outlet criticize PM's remarks on Japan-China relations

Japanese scholars, media outlet criticize PM's remarks on Japan-China relations

Japanese scholars, media outlet criticize PM's remarks on Japan-China relations

Japanese scholars, media outlet criticize PM's remarks on Japan-China relations

The United States and Ukrainian delegations on Saturday concluded three-day talks in Miami, Florida, where the two sides focused on territorial issues and U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, U.S. online media outlet Axios reported.

Sources told Axios that the discussion on territory was "difficult" as Russia continued to demand that Ukraine withdraws from parts of Donbas it currently controls, while the United States was trying to develop new ideas to bridge the gap.

Another major topic was U.S. security guarantees for Kiev, on which the parties made "significant progress" and moved closer to agreement, though further work is needed to ensure both sides interpret the draft framework consistently, according to the report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the Miami talks concluded with a two-hour phone call between himself and U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Peace Steven Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Ukraine's peace negotiators -- Secretary of National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and Chief of General Staff Andriy Hnatov -- also joined the conversation.

Zelensky described the call on X as "long and substantive," noting that the sides discussed key points needed to end the bloodshed.

He stressed that Ukraine remains committed to working with the United States "in good faith" to "genuinely achieve peace" and said both sides agreed on next steps and formats for continued talks.

Ukraine's negotiating team is expected to return to Europe on Monday and brief Zelensky in London on the latest U.S. proposals.

US, Ukraine wrap up 3-day Miami talks on territorial issues, security guarantees