Japanese people rally against PM's erroneous remarks, military expansion

Japanese citizens rallied in front of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's official residence on Wednesday, urging the prime minister to retract her erroneous remarks about China's Taiwan region and strongly protesting the government's accelerated military expansion.

Takaichi made provocative remarks on China's Taiwan region in early November 2025, claiming that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, and implying that Japan might invoke the so-called "right to collective self-defense" for armed intervention across the Taiwan Strait.

The protesters held signs urging Takaichi to withdraw her remarks and opposing incitement to war, demanding Takaichi’s resignation as prime minister.

"I believe that Takaichi's remarks constitute interference in China's internal affairs. China and East Asia have a history of being invaded by Japan. Takaichi's hasty and personal statements are extremely dangerous, and I sincerely hope she will step down," said a protester.

"In such a formal setting as a Diet meeting, Takaichi's remarks showed hostility towards China, and she needs to take responsibility. She must retract her statement in the same formal setting," said another protester.

The protesters said that the Takaichi cabinet disregard people's livelihoods, but instead continuously increase defense spending, which will lead Japan to the dangerous brink of war.

"I urge Takaichi to take her responsibility. I am extremely angry. I hope that tax revenues will be used to help people struggling financially and vulnerable groups, not to expand the Self-Defense Forces, and certainly not for war," said a woman.

"In the event of a so-called Taiwan contingency, and if the Self-Defense Forces were to intervene, Okinawa would be the first to become a battleground. Therefore, as an Okinawa resident, I believe that Takaichi's remarks are absolutely unforgivable," said a protester from Okinawa.

"While there are still so many people struggling to make ends meet, why is defense spending alone treated as a 'special item' and continuously increased? Tax revenues should be used for social security, education, and other areas that are truly important to our lives. Yet the government prioritizes greater investment in defense spending. Such an approach is truly baffling," said another protester.

Japanese people rally against PM's erroneous remarks, military expansion

China is willing to strengthen communication, enhance trust, eliminate interference, and deepen cooperation with Canada to bring bilateral relations forward on a steady and sound track in solid strides under the new circumstances, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Beijing on the day.

Referring to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China, the first by a Canadian prime minister in eight years, Wang said the trip marks a milestone in bilateral ties and signals a turning point in the relationship.

The leaders of the two countries will hold meetings and talks, which are expected to open up new prospects for bilateral relations, said Wang.

The world today is undergoing profound and complex changes, and the impact of China-Canada relations transcends the bilateral scope, Wang noted.

Wang said that China and Canada have different social systems, stemming from different historical and cultural heritage, and based on the choices of their respective people.

He urged both sides to view each other in a rational and amicable manner with an inclusive mindset, handle issues on the basis of mutual respect, focus on the agenda of cooperation, and send positive messages so as to foster optimism, inject greater confidence into the development of bilateral relations, and jointly build a new type of strategic partnership between China and Canada.

Anand said the new Canadian government attaches great importance to relations with China. She also added that Prime Minister Carney looks forward to engaging in in-depth exchanges with Chinese leaders during the visit to set the course for the development of bilateral relations, resume dialogue in various fields, pursue more mutually beneficial outcomes, enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and further advance the strategic partnership between the two countries.

China ready to work for steady, sound ties with Canada: FM