International experts have urged Japan to formally apologize to China for its historical crimes and wrongful statements by its Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Stephen Brawer, chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden, said Takaichi's recent provocative remarks signaled that Japan's old militarist forces are reviving, which is detrimental to regional and global peace.
"These forces are being activated. The old militarist forces, which rather than being activated, what is necessary in my view is an apology, a public apology from the Japanese government," he said.
At a Diet meeting on Nov. 7, Takaichi claimed 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.
Itumeleng Makgetla a South African political and international relations analyst, said the Japanese side must learn the lessons of history and clarify its position on the Taiwan question.
"When we look at the history between China and Japan leading up to the WWII, the imperial government of Japan, the massacre that happened has not even been resolved. The claims that China has on Taiwan, I think they have put up a a very credible and convincing argument that this is their territory. It has been in history," he said.
Diana Larry, a professor emerita of history at the University of British Columbia in Canada, said historical issues cannot be avoided or evaded, and Japan must confront history squarely.
"It's sad to say that Japan has remembered the atomic bombs, but not what happened in China. Germany has apologized repeatedly. Whatever reason the Japanese haven't been able to, I think that has to happen first. I still hope it will come that the Japanese will have a new understanding of that period. It will make things much easier to deal with at present," she said.
Japan urged to apologize for historical crimes, PM's wrongful statements
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that the nation will not yield to external pressure as U.S. President Donald Trump considers limited military strikes to influence the ongoing nuclear talks with the Islamic republic.
Pezeshkian said that despite the problems and harm caused by the enemy, the Iranian people will never yield to the enemy's bullying and coercion, noting that facing difficulties, Iran is determined to overcome challenges and defend national dignity.
Iran's stance comes as Trump confirmed on Friday that he is weighing "preliminary limited military strikes" to force Iran to accept U.S. demands regarding a nuclear agreement.
Also on Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry officially labeled the naval and air forces of all European Union states as "terrorist organizations". The move is a response to the EU's recent decision to list Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a "terrorist organization".
Iranian political analysts say the continued pressure and military buildup of the United States in the Middle East during the nuclear negotiations suggest that the U.S. negotiation strategy may be aimed at securing domestic support in the U.S. rather than truly resolving disputes.
Iranian political analyst Foad Izadi noted that history shows the U.S. is rarely sincere in seeking a negotiated resolution. A successful negotiation would require the United States to make concessions, which would give Iran breathing room to recuperate. He argues that the U.S. goal is to overthrow the Iranian regime, so there is no reason to create such space for Iran’s development. Izadi said he believes the U.S. participates in talks only to shore up domestic support. Although the U.S. Congress is divided on Iran, Trump can claim "the U.S. tried negotiations but failed" to build the political backing needed for military action.
Similarly, another Iranian analyst said that the current U.S. strategy typically involves creating an initial sense of optimism before gradually escalating demands and setting strict deadlines. The analyst described this pattern as a signature tactic designed to force Iran into a corner where it must either accept unfavorable terms or face the threat of conflict. This pattern has effectively become a standard tactic used by the United States, especially the Trump administration, in handling international and regional issues.
Recent statements and actions of Iran indicate that while Iran has not abandoned diplomacy as a means of resolving differences, it is also maintaining military preparedness. Analysts warn that as the Iran-U.S. military standoff persists, alongside the involvement of Israel, the risk of conflict and war in the Middle East remains elevated.
Iran stands firm against U.S. military pressure amid nuclear talks: president
