A noted U.S. historian on Tuesday condemned recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on China's Taiwan, calling them a breach of the post-war order that seriously undermines regional peace.
Peter Kuznick, professor of history at American University, said in an interview with China Central Television that Takaichi's erroneous remarks pose a danger that cannot be ignored to Sino-Japanese relations and peace across Asia as a whole.
The scholar noted that Takaichi's recent use of the argument "a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency" ignored the most sensitive historical context of Sino-Japanese relations and overlooked a bottom line set by the post-war international order.
"It was such a stupid, provocative, ignorant thing to say. Japan has adhered to the post-war agreements including in 1971 vote in the United Nations. So, Japan has always implicitly recognized the one-China policy. And Takaichi is the first one to really disavow that. It's very dangerous and very provocative," he said, referring to the vote on UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 in October 1971. The resolution, adopted with an overwhelming majority, solemnly confirms and fully embodies the one-China principle.
Kuznick, who also directs the university's Nuclear Studies Institute, pointed out that Takaichi's government is actively eroding Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, a key cornerstone of regional stability, and sheering the nation towards rearmament.
He highlighted that Article 9, the "no-war" clause contained in Japan's constitution, prohibits the country from possessing military forces and other "war potential."
"Article 9 created a peace constitution saying that it's not going to use military forces anywhere in any aggressive way. But increasingly in recent years, the Japanese governments have gotten around Article 9, and they deployed the Self-Defense Forces. And how they say they're allowed to deploy Self-Defense Forces to support Japan's allies in the region, meaning the United States and especially over Taiwan. And so Article 9 [of] the peace constitution, is still on the books, but Takaichi, like her predecessors, has made clear she wants to get rid of it. And it would be very unfortunate," said Kuznick.
U.S. historian slams Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, highlights 'no-war' clause of Japan's constitution
U.S. historian slams Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, highlights 'no-war' clause of Japan's constitution
