An analyst from the Republic of Korea on Monday criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan, describing them as inflammatory and a threat to regional peace.
At a Diet meeting on Nov 7, Takaichi claimed that a "Taiwan emergency" involving the use of military vessels and military force from the Chinese mainland could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, which could prompt the Self-Defense Forces to exercise the right of collective self-defense.
On Monday, Takaichi insisted that her remarks were in line with the government's longstanding view, and she had no intention to retract the remarks.
Speaking to China Media Group in Seoul, Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, shared his views about Takaichi's remarks and warned of the ramifications for peace and stability in the region and even the entire world, should the Japanese leader continues down the wrong path.
"I think one sentence would suffice to summarize what Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have said: she's made the most erroneous of all erroneous remarks. Takaichi's Nov 7 remarks regarding Taiwan and military intervention undermine the one-China principle and is absurd rhetoric that threatens peace in East Asia. The international community firmly believes that Taiwan is part of China, and the issue of cross-Strait relations is China's internal affair," he said.
"Prime Minister Takaichi, rather than reflect on Japan's history of aggression in East Asian countries like the Republic of Korea and China, made such anti-peace remarks instead, which, in fact, constitutes a dangerous act that could jeopardize peace. Such provocative and erroneous words are really dangerous and inflammatory as they threaten both peace in Northeast Asia and the world at large," he said.
"Therefore, I believe that based on the shared history of resisting Japanese imperialism over the past 80 years, the peoples of ROK and China should unite to prevent the rise of extreme right-wing forces in Japan, condemn them and bring them to justice for the sake of peace in East Asia," Kwon said.
Japanese PM's remarks on Taiwan threaten regional peace: ROK analyst
The torch relay for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games began on Saturday morning in Rome, marking the start of a two-month journey ahead of next year's opening ceremony.
The launch ceremony was held at the Stadio dei Marmi, an open-air arena lined with Roman-style statues next to Rome's Olympic Stadium.
At around 09:50, Giancarlo Peris, the final torchbearer of the 1960 Rome Games, brought the flame onto the launch stage. A torch was lit with the flame, and Giovanni Malago, president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 organizing committee, lit the cauldron with it.
The first torchbearer, Italy's Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, lit the relay torch from the cauldron and then ran a half-lap around the stadium to cheers from spectators, officially starting the relay.
Italian fencer Elisa Di Francisca and high jump Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi followed as the second and third torchbearers and completed their relay segments inside the stadium. Tamberi performed a torch kiss with the next runner, Achille Polonara, who carried the flame out of the stadium to begin the route through the city.
The relay will traverse 12,000 kilometers over 60 days across Italy, pass through more than 300 municipalities and feature celebrations in 60 cities, reach all 110 Italian provinces, and light up UNESCO sites along the route.
More than 10,000 torchbearers from all walks of life will take part in the relay, including figures from sectors of sports, culture, film and civil society.
The flame will see Christmas in Naples, New Year in Bari, and return to Cortina d'Ampezzo on January 26, 2026, the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Winter Games opening ceremony. The relay will conclude on February 6 at Milan's San Siro Stadium.
Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games' organizing committee, said the torch relay will strengthen the spirit of peace and hope for humanity.
"Our torch will pass through all cultural heritage sites. So along the way, we'll see both our nation's historical landmarks as well as natural landscapes. But what matters most are the people who embrace the torch as a symbol of peace and hope. Athletes and ordinary citizens carrying the Winter Olympics torch will carry the spirit all the way to Milan," he said.
Torch relay for Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games starts in Rome
Torch relay for Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games starts in Rome
