A member of Japan's House of Councilors criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent erroneous remarks regarding China's Taiwan region, saying her statement seriously violates the political foundation for the normalization of Japan-China relations.
In an exclusive interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Yamazoe Taku, a member of Japan's House of Councilors, the country's upper house of the National Diet, said Takaichi's dangerous remarks not only seriously undermine Japan's principle of establishing a peaceful nation, but also fundamentally shake the political foundation of Japan-China relations.
The 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement states that "the Government of Japan recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China" and that "the Government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People's Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation."
"Even if Japan is not attacked, it could still lead to a war between Japan and China, which is extremely dangerous. Moreover, this statement goes against the consensus reached by China and Japan when they normalized their diplomatic relations in 1972. In the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Japanese side expressed understanding of and respect for China's position on the Taiwan question. This statement (by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi) undermines the foundation of Japan-China relations. Therefore, I think Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks are seriously erroneous, which must be withdrawn," he said.
"Japan, bound by Article 9 of its Constitution, has long emphasized an 'exclusively defensive' posture. Therefore, the so-called 'counterstrike capabilities against enemy bases,' namely, missiles capable of long-range strikes on other nations, have been deemed unconstitutional. This stance has been upheld by successive [Japanese] governments. Yet now, they are attempting to deploy missiles across the country under the an integrated Japan-U.S. framework. Such missile deployment is completely unconstitutional," said the politician.
Taku said instead of adopting a more cautious and restrained attitude towards security policies and historical issues, the current Japanese government, however, is attempting to promote military expansion under the pretext of the so-called "deteriorating security environment".
This approach is not only dangerous but also deviates from the fundamental direction of Japan's peaceful development after the war, he said.
"Japan's postwar path was established on the historical foundation of reflecting on its own initiation of war and the disasters it inflicted upon the people of various countries, and Article 9 of the Constitution precisely embodies this reflection. Therefore, disregarding this fact and advancing military strengthening solely on the grounds of a 'deteriorating security environment' is, in my view, an improper course of action. At the significant juncture marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Japanese government must see history with an attitude of facing up to the past and the historical facts," he said.
Japanese PM's erroneous remarks threaten ties with China: politician
