Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's provocative remarks about China's Taiwan region have raised concerns in Japan over losing the Chinese market.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Toshiyuki Yamamoto, vice director of the Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS) at Nagoya University, expressed deep concern over how strained ties between Japan and China will hamper key economic sectors.
"In this situation, many Chinese tourists are stopping to come to Japan, and then it also causes the damage to the tourism industry in Japan. The automotive industry, as you mentioned, we have a good market in China so far. But we are afraid of losing this very large market from the Japanese side, but also China is exporting materials. So we are really concerned about it," said Yamamoto.
This comes as China sharply criticizes Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan, with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce warning that the remarks are severely damaging the political foundation of China-Japan relations and harming bilateral trade and cooperation.
Takaichi's blatant suggestion of possible Japanese military involvement in the Taiwan Strait has also drawn strong international backlash, with critics accusing her of reviving militarist rhetoric and escalating regional tensions.
Japan PM’s provocative remarks raise fears over losing Chinese market: scholar
Japan PM’s provocative remarks raise fears over losing Chinese market: scholar
