Japanese citizens protest constitutional revision in Tokyo

China

Japanese citizens protest constitutional revision in Tokyo

2026-05-27 20:06 Last Updated At：23:37

Japanese citizens rallied in Tokyo on Tuesday to protest the government's attempts to revise the country's pacifist constitution and carry out military expansion policies.

Japan's Constitution, which took effect in 1947, is often referred to as the pacifist Constitution because its Article 9 renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits Japan from possessing "war potential."

However, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering revising the principle of not hosting nuclear weapons under the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is discussing amending Article 9 and introducing an emergency clause.

"The government is trying to pass many frightening bills. I feel very uneasy about my future life. I am very disappointed with the Takaichi administration," said a protester.

Another protester said that many decisions are made without fully informing the public, which is unsettling, and they fear Japan could unknowingly become a country that starts wars.

"I feel that various things are decided without fully informing the Japanese people. That is what makes me uneasy about the Takaichi administration. If this continues, Article 9 of the constitution might eventually be changed. Before we know it, Japan could become a country that wages war. I can truly feel that danger," she said.

While ignoring domestic livelihood issues such as rising living costs, the Takaichi administration insists on undermining the pacifist constitution and spends huge amounts of money on purchasing weapons, according to the protesters.

"I think it's terrifying that the Takaichi administration is pushing constitutional revisions without fully explaining to the people. As prices of gasoline and various other things keep rising, food and other goods are also affected. The cost of living is increasing across the board, and there may even be shortages of medical supplies. Yet the government insists there is no shortage. Instead of buying weapons, they should use tax money to truly guarantee people's livelihoods," said a protester.

Mainland open to consultations on reunification with Taiwan: spokesman

The Chinese mainland is willing to engage in consultations with relevant parties in Taiwan on reunification under certain legal guarantees, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.

Formosa Alliance, a group in Taiwan known for its radical pro-separatism stance, has issued an open letter, expressing willingness to adjust its stance and participate in cross-Strait reunification negotiations on the condition of the "people in Taiwan governing Taiwan and a high degree of autonomy" being guaranteed by clear legal commitments.

When asked for his comment, Chen reiterated the mainland's consistent position that cross-Strait unification is inevitable.

"The two sides of the Taiwan Strait will eventually and definitely achieve reunification. We are willing to, on the shared political foundation of upholding the '1992 Consensus' and opposing 'Taiwan separatism', engage in dialogue and consultation with all political parties, groups, sectors and social strata in Taiwan regarding the development of cross-Strait relations and the future of the nation, and jointly promote the process of national reunification," he said.