Japanese media figure Atsushi Okamoto has urged Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to immediately retract her earlier erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan, warning the comments could further strain Japan-China relations.
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, implying the possibility of Japan's armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
As Japan's prime minister, Takaichi's remarks not only represent her personal views but also carry implications for the Japanese people and Japan's relations with its neighbors, Atsushi Okamoto, former editor-in-chief of Sekai Magazine and former president of Iwanami Shoten Publishers, said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Tokyo on Monday.
She must exercise the utmost caution, he added.
"I believe the term 'withdrawal' must be explicitly stated by her. Japan has renounced the right to wage war in its Constitution and is a country constitutionally barred from initiating warfare. Yet it is now undertaking extensive war preparations. From historical, moral, or political perspectives, this is utterly untenable. I believe using these arguments as pretexts to expand military spending is highly objectionable," Okamoto said.
He urged Takaichi to adopt a more cautious approach in handling foreign relations and security policy issues, to avoid exposing Japan to unnecessary risks and disputes.
"I hope she will study history diligently, master the Constitution and laws, and thoroughly examine the history of Japan-China relations. She must truly internalize all of this lessons deeply and speak only after careful and repeated deliberation," Okamoto said.
Japanese media figure urges PM Takaichi to retract remarks on Taiwan
