A group of Japanese citizens held a study session in Tokyo on Saturday, expressing deep concern over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's intentions to amend the country's pacifist constitution and criticizing her erroneous remarks on Taiwan.
Following the general election, Takaichi, who also serves as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, signaled a move toward constitutional revision, stating that conditions should be created for an early national referendum on amending the Constitution. The remarks have sparked concern among the public.
At the event, Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima voiced strong opposition to the proposed revision of Japan’s pacifist constitution.
"I think Sanae Takaichi would do anything. I have a strong sense of crisis about this. No matter what, we must not allow Article 9 of Japan's pacifist constitution to be revised. I hope everyone will make real efforts for this," she said.
Beyond the proposed constitutional revision, participants at the meeting also criticized Takaichi's erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan region.
"When Takaichi made those erroneous remarks, I felt a shiver down my spine and wondered how someone could think that way. Everyone gathered here today shares the same feeling," a participant said.
"I feel very sorry (about her erroneous remarks). She should retract those words," another participant said.
In early November 2025, Takaichi said a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute what she called a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, remarks that many critics say reflect nostalgia for Japan's colonial past and an attempt to weaponize the Taiwan issue against China.
Japanese citizens voice concern over Takaichi's push for constitutional revision
Japanese citizens voice concern over Takaichi's push for constitutional revision
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
