A public seminar held in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday brought together citizens critical of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on China's Taiwan region, calling them irresponsible and warning of the dangers posed by Japan's rightward shift and military expansion.
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 attendees warned that Takaichi's rhetoric could undermine decades of diplomatic agreements and threaten regional stability.
"The Japan-China joint communique was signed in 1972. I believe that the most important thing about formal joint communiques and agreements between countries is to truly abide by them. At the very least, as a national leader, one should be responsible not only for domestic politics but also for international affairs. Yet, we have chosen someone as our leader who lacks this perspective. As a Japanese citizen, I feel deeply regretful and remorseful about this," said one participant.
"I think [Sanae Takaichi] is trying to destroy Japan. If there is no apology, it could destroy a country, or even the world," said another participant.
Some participants at the seminar expressed concern that after Takaichi formed her second cabinet, Japan might further increase its defense budget, seek to loosen military restrictions, and rush to signal a revision of Japan's pacifist Constitution. They voiced their worries and opposition to these developments.
"[Takaichi's remarks] are really terrible. That kind of rhetoric is practically inciting war. I think it's extremely dangerous. The pacifist Constitution that has lasted for 80 years since the war is being undermined. Now, Japanese media are reporting that Japan has started promoting arms exports. This is essentially a violation of the pacifist Constitution itself. I think this is a very frightening thing," said a participant.
"I hope everyone can use their own minds to think, look up history, and express their true feelings. If we don't do this, we might repeat the same mistakes, and something terrible could even happen in our generation. We could unknowingly become participants and leave a negative legacy for our children," said another participant.
Japan PM's Taiwan remarks deemed irresponsible, threat to peace at Tokyo seminar
