Takaichi's erroneous Taiwan-related remarks draw domestic, int'l criticisms

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks regarding China's Taiwan region have drawn criticisms among politicians and scholars at home and abroad.

Hitomi Sugiura, a Japanese lawyer, pointed out that Takaichi's remarks at a Diet meeting on Nov 7 erroneously invoked Japan's right to collective self-defense enabled by the legislation for peace and security passed in 2015, which violates the Constitution of Japan itself.

It was in that speech 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 across the Taiwan Strait. Noting the remarks have seriously undermined the relations between Japan and China, the lawyer urged Takaichi to retract her remarks as soon as possible.

"Sanae Takaichi's remarks violate the legislation as its legal requirements are not met. It also deviates from the position the Japanese government has long upheld, so these are remarks that have crossed the line. So I think Takaichi's remarks have caused very negative consequences to the Japan-China relations, and the Chinese side has demanded the remarks should be retracted. So I think they should be retracted immediately," Sugiura said. Regarding Japan's military buildup in the past few years, which has intensified regional tensions, Sugiura called on the Japanese government to return to the path of peace.

"In the first place, Article 9 of the Constitution prohibits the maintenance of armed forces and renounces war as a means of settling international disputes. From a lawyer's perspective, the current situation violates the Constitution. As Japan's relevant military policies continue to push ahead, we must take action to try to stop this trend," she said.

Akashambatwa Lewanika, a former political advisor to President of Zambia, noted the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and Takaichi's provocative interference undermines bilateral relations.

"he Prime Minister of Japan's words addressed on this subject, which is an internal subject, is a step in the wrong direction, which is not encouraging peaceful coexistence between Japan and China, and it is not a step that leaves the internal affairs of China in Chinese hands," he said.

Lewanika also noted that Takaichi's provocative remarks pose a challenge to post-war international order.

"History teaches us that we do not want to go back to imperialism, we do not want to go back to colonialism, we do not want to go to militarism that showed its ugly face during the Second World War. We'd like the Second World War to be seen as concluded as it was concluded," Lewanika said.

Takaichi's erroneous Taiwan-related remarks draw domestic, int'l criticisms

Venezuelans have strongly slammed the United States for imposing a "complete maritime blockade" on tankers transporting Venezuelan energy. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has sent a message to the United Nations and heads of state of countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region, condemning the U.S. for escalating extremely serious aggressions that not only affect Venezuela but also threaten the stability of the entire region and the international system as a whole.

In the letter, Maduro warned that these attacks will impact "the supply of oil and energy, increase instability in international markets, and damage the economies of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the world." The Venezuelan president called for unity among all parties to confront the U.S. military threats and acts of piracy, condemning the U.S. for violating international law and infringing on human rights.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil read the letter on state television from the Venezuelan foreign ministry headquarters on Monday. The letter stated that condoning such unilateral actions by the United States would undermine regional stability and global energy security.

As scheduled, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the situation in Venezuela on Tuesday.

"The entire world is aware that Venezuela possesses oil reserves, and the United States covets our resources," said a citizen in Caracas.

"This constitutes a form of colonialism that seeks to impose its own standards on other countries and exert control over neighboring nations. It represents a new variant of the Monroe Doctrine," said another citizen in Caracas.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a "full and total blockade" of all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, declaring Maduro's government a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

The Pentagon has deployed around a dozen warships, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, a major aircraft carrier, and about 15,000 troops to the Caribbean Sea, which shares a significant amount of coastline with Venezuela. The region has not seen such a massive U.S. military presence for at least three decades.

Venezuela has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin America, condemning the U.S. navy's interception of oil tankers as "piracy."

Venezuelans condemn U.S. piracy actions, call for solidarity