A growing number of voices from across Japanese political and academic circles have sharply criticized recent comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, warning that her statements could jeopardize regional stability and damage Japan's own interests.
Takaichi has 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.
Ozawa Ichiro, a lawmaker from the Constitutional Democratic Party -- the largest opposition party -- said Takaichi's aggressive rhetoric could trigger a series of negative consequences, including deterioration of China-Japan relations, worsening public sentiment, reduced bilateral trade, and restrictions on people-to-people exchanges.
Tanaka Hitoshi, former deputy minister for foreign affairs, cautioned that matters such as Japan's involvement in the Taiwan Strait situation or revising the country's "three non-nuclear principles" are issues tied to the nation's survival and must not be spoken of lightly. He warned that if Takaichi continues with such reckless behavior, Japan could be led into an irreparable crisis.
"All Japanese experts I know, especially those who understand Japan-China relations well, believe that Takaichi's remarks this time have very serious problems. Takaichi should immediately retract her erroneous comments," said Takamura Noriyuki, vice president of Japan-China Relations Society.
Recalling the 1972 normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan, Takamura stressed the importance of honoring the commitments set out by then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and then Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka.
"It is clearly written that Japan acknowledges 'one China.' 'One China' refers to the Government of the People's Republic of China -- this was explicitly agreed in the document. As for Taiwan, the document states that Taiwan is an inseparable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China -- this is China's position, and the Japanese government respects it. It is clearly recorded in the document on the normalization of China-Japan relations. Therefore, this is the most fundamental basis of Japan-China relations. It is extremely important for both sides to abide by and uphold this foundation," he said.
Japanese public figures criticize Takaichi's remarks as harmful to regional stability
Japanese public figures criticize Takaichi's remarks as harmful to regional stability
