Seminar attendees call Japan PM's remarks on China's Taiwan irresponsible, dangerous for peace

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Seminar attendees call Japan PM's remarks on China's Taiwan irresponsible, dangerous for peace

2026-01-25 10:24 Last Updated At：01-26 12:43

A public seminar held in Nagoya on Saturday gathered scholars and citizens critical of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on China's Taiwan region, calling them irresponsible and dangerous for regional stability.

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 nationwide.

Seminar participants said that Takaichi's wrongful remarks on Taiwan are leading Japan toward war, calling such thinking extremely dangerous.

"This is not just about the so-called 'Taiwan emergency'. Her words imply war. How can she not understand that? It's beyond belief," said one attendee.

Members of civil society and experts on China-Japan relations were especially alarmed about the geopolitical implications of Takaichi's stance.

"This is the first time since World War II that Japan has hinted at the possibility of war with China. It's a very serious matter, which sparks vigilance from China naturally and heightens tensions across East Asia. Takaichi must be held accountable for the consequence," said Noriyuki Kawamura, president of the Tokai Japan-China Relations Society.

Participants also criticized Takaichi's abrupt decision to dissolve the Japanese House of Representatives, branding it another rash move amid political instability.

Takaichi on Monday announced her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23, and her cabinet formally adopted the decision on Friday. Official campaigning for the snap general election is set to begin on January 27, with voting scheduled for February 8.

"What Japan truly needs is stability, both political and economic. Only through stability can we achieve economic development and social progress," said one participant.

"Japan's domestic situation is already dire. No matter who is in power, the government should focus on doing the basics right at home first," said another attendee.

Russia hits Ukraine's energy sites, Ukraine repels numerous attacks

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The Russian Defense Ministry announced a series of strikes across several fronts, including Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia. Its forces targeted energy infrastructure and production facilities used by Ukraine's defense industry complex, as well as storage and launch sites for long-range drones, and temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Sunday that 127 combat engagements occurred along the front lines during the previous day. Ukrainian forces launched strikes on Russian personnel and equipment concentrations using air force, missile, and artillery units. Ukrainian defenses successfully repelled 44 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk direction.