Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent erroneous remarks regarding China's Taiwan region were reckless and violated the spirit of historical documents, said Satoshi Tomisaka, a professor at Takushoku University.
Earlier this month, Takaichi said at a Diet hearing that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
Her remarks have triggered a critical response amongst many Japanese academicians.
"Takaichi's remarks are inappropriate. As the Japanese prime minister and the highest leader of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, it is clearly inappropriate for her to make such reckless statements on extremely sensitive issues. Successive Japanese cabinets have always exercised caution. This sudden overstepping in expression is truly perplexing as no reasonable motive can be discerned, and frankly, it is confusing." as Japan's highest leader of the government and defense forces, it is clearly inappropriate for her to make such reckless statements on extremely sensitive issues. Successive Japanese cabinets have always exercised caution. This sudden overstepping in expression is truly perplexing as no reasonable motive can be discerned, and frankly, it is confusing," said Tomisaka.
Tomisaka also said that from the perspective of international law, Takaichi's statements are riddled with flaws.
"From the perspective of international law, the problems with her statement are very serious. It potentially violated Japan's position explicitly stated in the China-Japan Joint Statement, as well as the subsequent China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. In this regard, it is not surprising that the Chinese side has raised questions as the content of her statement clearly involved the Taiwan question. Evaluating from the standpoint of bilateral agreements and political documents, there are significant problems in her remarks," he said.
Japanese PM's erroneous remarks violate spirit of historical documents: scholar
