Japan should retract erroneous remarks, seek improved relations with China: US historian

An American historian has called on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to retract her recent erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan region and develop friendly ties with China.

Takaichi is under growing domestic and international pressure after suggesting that Japan may respond with force if the Chinese mainland uses military means against Taiwan.

While speaking at a parliamentary session last month, she described such a scenario as a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, implying potential armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.

In a recent interview with China Central Television, Peter Kuznick, professor of history at American University in Washington D.C., decried the remarks, saying they violate international law and undermine regional peace and stability.

"I think Takaichi should retract her statement, say that it was a mistake, that that is not Japan's policy and that Japan wants to develop a closer relationship with China. But she's refused to do so. She's refused to retract it. She's refused to apologize. And in fact, she's effectively been doubling down on that statement and on that policy," he said.

Adding to tensions, a senior official in charge of security and defense at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office recently told reporters that Japan should have nuclear weapons. Japanese defense minister later said that they left open the possibility of Japan reviewing its non-nuclear principles in the future.

According to Kuznick, this sharp divergence from the country's historical stance on nuclear weapons would represent a serious threat.

"That would be so dangerous. We know that Japan has been close to having nuclear weapons for years. We say that Japan is a screwdriver twist away. It's got a massive amount of enriched plutonium and uranium, has got the scientific technological knowhow. But Japan was always the most anti-nuclear country. Japan is the only country to have been bombed with atomic bombs in 1945 and always was a leading force against nuclear proliferation. Now that has changed," said the professor.

Japan should retract erroneous remarks, seek improved relations with China: US historian

Chinese researchers have successfully accelerated a ton-class test vehicle to 700 kilometers per hour within two seconds on a 400-meter magnetic levitation (maglev) track using a superconducting electromagnetic propulsion system, setting a new world record.

The currently world's fastest acceleration on such a platform was followed by a safe stop, according to the research team at National University of Defense Technology, who made the breakthrough after 10 years of efforts.

The breakthrough addressed several challenges in core technologies, including ultra-high-speed electromagnetic propulsion, electric levitation guidance, transient high-power energy storage inversion, and high-field superconducting magnets.

It makes China a global leader in developing ultra-high-speed maglev systems, offers the country a new option for the future development of vacuum tube maglev transportation, as well as new approaches and new means for aerospace-assisted launch and experimental testing.

The subsequent technological iterations and industrial applications of this achievement will inject new momentum into China's aviation, aerospace and rail transit industries.

"The success of our ultra-high-speed superconducting electric maglev system will speed up the development of China's ultra-high-speed maglev transportation. Next, our team will focus on ultra-high-speed tube maglev transportation, aviation and aerospace equipment testing, electromagnetic launch, and other cutting-edge areas while promoting closer collaboration among enterprises, universities, research institutes and end-users to contribute to independent innovation in defense technology," said Li Jie, a professor at the university.

China sets new record in superconducting maglev propulsion