Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's reckless provocation related to Taiwan could have very harmful consequences for Japan if she continues down this dangerous path, said a China Media Group commentary published on Monday.
An adapted English version of the commentary is as follows:
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's explicit provocative remarks concerning Taiwan during a parliamentary session have ignited a political firestorm. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, and Embassy in Japan have respectively issued solemn statements and strong protests. Meanwhile, Takaichi's remarks have drawn widespread condemnation across the Japanese society, with public demonstrations demanding her resignation. Despite this, the Japanese leader has refused to admit wrongdoing, withdraw her statements, or address their damaging consequences.
Takaichi's meddling in and hyping up of the Taiwan question is driven by extremely ill intentions, constitutes an highly pernicious act, and will invite exceedingly harmful consequences.
As Japan's leader, she has deliberately linked Taiwan - purely China's internal affair - to Japan's so-called "existential crisis" in an official setting, openly raising the possibility of military intervention in the Taiwan Strait in a dangerous attempt to rekindle the ashes of militarism.
However, Takaichi has gravely miscalculated. Today's China possesses the firm will, unwavering resolve, and strong capability to safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
As China's Ministry of National Defense spokesman Jiang Bin has recently noted, should the Japanese side dare to take a risk, it will only suffer a crushing defeat against the steel-willed Chinese People's Liberation Army and pay a heavy price.
Rational voices opposing this self-destructive path and condemning Takaichi's erroneous statements continue to emerge within Japan. Three former prime ministers -- Yoshihiko Noda, Yukio Hatoyama, and Shigeru Ishiba -- have successively warned against her provocations, while multiple lawmakers have criticized her remarks as "extremely dangerous" and showing "no conscientiousness befitting a prime minister."
Major Japanese newspapers including Tokyo Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, and Kyoto Shimbun have published editorials condemning Takaichi's rash and reckless comments for exacerbating regional tensions. Meanwhile, numerous civic groups and hundreds of citizens have held spontaneous rallies expressing strong dissatisfaction with Takaichi's misconduct, with protesters gathering outside the prime minister's office calling for Takaichi to step down, retract her statements and apologize immediately.
This domestic criticism reflects the Japanese public's refusal to be dragged into militarist ventures or serve as cannon fodder for militarism.
The Taiwan question bears on China's core interests and the Chinese people's national sentiments. The Chinese people, for all their love for peace, will never sit idly by and watch China's national sovereignty, security, and development interests be undermined, nor will they allow anyone or any force to violate or split China's sacred territory. Should Takaichi remain unrepentant and continue down this destructive path, she will surely meet with a strong fightback and bring destruction upon the Japanese state.
Takaichi's reckless acts threaten Japan's future: commentary
