International experts have raised alarm over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's provocative remarks on China's Taiwan region, warning of a upcoming fallout inflicting irreparable damage to Japan's relations with countries in the region.
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.
Takaichi later insisted that her remarks were in line with the government's longstanding view and that she had no intention of retracting them.
"[Takaichi's remarks] were clearly made to serve domestic political needs, and I believe they are inappropriate and no one will be benefited from them. Such an inciting rhetoric is highly improper. Whether in the context of ROK-China relations, China-Japan relations, or China-U.S. relations, one of the fundamental principles for China to establish diplomatic ties with these countries was agreement to the one-China policy. Therefore claiming that Taiwan's fate is Japan's fate is obviously unacceptable," said Kim Joon-hyung, a Rebuilding Korea Party member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
"I think the remarks are very unfortunate and that's partly because Japan's economy is not doing very well and unfortunately, she chose to raise her profile and to court the nationalist wing of the Japanese population by speaking very aggressively," said Anton Fedyashin, a professor of history of American University.
"Japan was at the beginning and everything about what one-China policy is about. We talk about issue about Taiwan and of course when the UN resolution was passed to now make Taiwan an inalienable part of China. A few key recommendations: first, clarify and reaffirm (Japan's) position on one-China policy; second, tone down on the militarization of their messaging," said Paul Frimpong, executive director of Africa-China Center for Policy and Advisory, a think thank in Ghana.
"The remarks made by Prime Minister Takaichi is definitely quite surprising and in the sense that disconcerting as well. And also given the awful history of Japanese atrocities in China and also different parts of Asia, it is understandable that China will be upset. I think what's more concerning for the region is the recent situations with Prime Minister Takaichi, who is seemingly refusing to be clear about their position on the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, either refusing to reaffirm or deliberately being vague about whether or not Japan is still committed to these principles. And of course, this is something that would increase the tension and also decrease the degree of trust that we have towards Japan in the region," said Christine Tjhin, an international relations expert at Indonesia's Gentala Institute.
Experts warn Japanese PM's provocative remarks on Taiwan could harm int'l relations
Experts warn Japanese PM's provocative remarks on Taiwan could damage int'l relations
