Japanese protesters urges PM to retract erroneous remarks on China’s Taiwan

Japanese people rallied in front of the official residence of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday, demanding the withdrawal of her erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan region, which have seriously undermined the political foundation of Japan-China relations.

At a Diet meeting in early November 2025, 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 in the Taiwan Strait, drawing strong criticism worldwide.

"Sanae Takaichi's personal thoughts are unpleasant. As prime minister, she hasn't made a proper apology. I truly feel we have let the Chinese people down. I believe China and Japan are interdependent. Japan relies on China in many aspects. Yet, she has made statements that constitute a deliberate provocation. I'm genuinely worried about what the future holds for the Japanese people. I hope that Sanae Takaichi, as prime minister, as a person, and as a citizen, will retract these remarks and bring relations back to normal," said a protester.

"She said something that was so absurd. The term 'survival-threatening situation' is itself weird and clearly untenable under Article 9 of the Constitution," said another protester.

The Article 9 renounces Japan's right to engaging in war or to resorting to military force to resolve international conflicts.

Some protesters also expressed concerns over Takaichi's moves in loosening restrictions on active offense, accelerating military buildup by increasing defense spending, and promoting arms exports, saying she is pushing Japan toward war.

"These things have been pushing Japan step by step toward war. For example, arms exports. Why does Japan have to export weapons? We should note that Japan is the only defeated country that has suffered atomic bombings. So, I really don't understand what the government is doing now," said another protester.

Japanese protesters urges PM to retract erroneous remarks on China’s Taiwan

The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.

Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.

The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.

"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.

The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.

Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.

"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.

Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near