International politicians and scholars have criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her erroneous remarks regarding Taiwan and growing militarism, saying these violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations and threaten regional peace and stability.
Ezzat Saad, director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said that Takaichi's comments clearly deviate from the fundamental principles of China-Japan relations. He reaffirmed the Arab world's recognition of the one-China policy.
"The erroneous remarks made by Japanese leader have deviated from the normal track of China-Japan relations. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory -- an indisputable fact. Resolving the Taiwan question is China's internal affair. It should be decided by the Chinese people themselves. Arab countries hold a clear and firm position on this question. All Arab countries, without exception, firmly uphold the one-China principle," he said.
Gyula Thurmer, president of the Hungarian Workers' Party, stated that Japan has no right to interfere in China's internal affairs and expressed support for China's calm and resolute stance.
"Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese government's position that other countries should not interfere in Taiwan affairs is entirely justified. We Hungarians, the Hungarian people, support this position. The current Japanese government is escalating tensions in the Far East. We believe that peace and cooperation are of vital importance," he said.
Jeffrey Sachs, an economic professor at Columbia University, analyzed that the Japanese government, instead of reflecting on its historical guilt, has deteriorated the regional situation, signaling dangerous militaristic revival.
"It did escalate the tensions tremendously between China and Japan. Japan should be careful, measured, prudent and peace-oriented vis-a-vis China. And I think the new Prime Minister of Japan got off on the wrong foot. Over the last 10 years, Japan has become less pacifist. Japan never really came to grips, I would say, with what it had done in repeated wars in East Asia and in Southeast Asia. And the militarism is dangerous and anachronistic and it should have no place in our world today," said Sachs.
Takaichi's provocative remarks have also drawn strong condemnation from scholars at home.
Hiromori Maedomari, a professor at Okinawa International University, pointed out that the prime minister's statements violate Japan's Pacifist Constitution and could lead the country down a dangerous path.
"This was never the kind of statement a prime minister should make, and it has already drawn criticism within Japan. As a country, Japan is naturally a 'non-war country,' and a nation that has explicitly enshrined a pledge of 'non-aggression' in its constitution. If this clause is now being amended, or even maliciously modified, it can be interpreted as Japan sliding toward a dangerous direction," he said.
"I believe the lack of historical awareness is the greatest weakness of Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister. She disregarded the foundation of stability and peace that Japan had painstakingly built through prolonged discussion and effort. This reckless mindset ultimately led to her erroneous remarks. Furthermore, she failed to recognize the immense global impact that statements made by a Prime Minister carry. Therefore, electing someone unfit to be Prime Minister to that position was itself a mistake," the economist added.
Int'l politicians, scholars criticize Japanese PM for escalating regional tensions, reviving militarism
