Japan: Don’t fulfill the prophecy of a ‘perilous neighbor’ as soon as extra

Sanae Takaichi (C) bows after profitable the prime ministerial designation vote within the House of Representatives in Tokyo, Japan, October 21, 2025. /Xinhua

Editor’s be aware: Zhou Xin is an observer on worldwide affairs, specializing in the Asia-Pacific area. The article displays the writer’s opinions and never essentially the views of CGTN.

In 1922, the famend scholar Bertrand Russell predicted in his work The Problem of China: “In the long run, I believe that Japan must dominate the Far East or go under. If the Japanese had a different character, this would not be the case; but the nature of their ambitions makes them exclusive and unneighborly.”  

At the time, Japan was within the period of militarist growth, with a rampant worship of pressure and blind religion in energy. This in the end turned Japan right into a “perilous neighbor” that wrought havoc throughout the area. Japanese militarism introduced untold struggling to Asian international locations and likewise led to its personal catastrophic downfall. More than a century has handed since Russell’s prophecy, and 80 years have elapsed because the victory of the anti-fascist struggle and the defeat of Japanese militarism. Yet even in the present day, this prophecy nonetheless serves as a stark warning.

Why does this warning nonetheless resonate? Because after World War II (WWII), fairly than reflecting and repenting, Japan has seen a resurgence of militarism that has grown more and more intense. Since taking workplace,  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made reckless remarks on the Taiwan query, repeatedly crossed traces in territorial disputes and stubbornly sought to whitewash historical past and break away from constraints on army points.  

All this has aroused excessive vigilance amongst neighboring international locations. Across the area, practically all of Japan’s neighbors are on guard towards this unfriendly neighbor. Takaichi and the right-wing forces are pushing Japan into an remoted place – “detested by all neighbors,” – and as soon as once more casting it as a “perilous neighbor” within the area.

With regard to China, Takaichi has made extraordinarily irresponsible and fallacious remarks on the Taiwan query, grossly interfered in China’s inner affairs and trodden on the purple line of China’s sovereignty. Yet she has persistently refused to retract her statements or apologize, pushing China-Japan relations to the bottom level since normalization.

With regard to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), whereas the Takaichi administration publicly expressed willingness to carry direct talks with the DPRK’s chief, it determined in November 2025 to increase unilateral sanctions towards the DPRK for one more two years. In response, the DPRK has labeled Japan a “war criminal state,” and acknowledged that Takaichi’s right-wing background and her acts similar to visiting the Yasukuni Shrine confirmed disrespect for historical past. It calls for that Japan handle its historic crimes, rejecting what it characterizes as hypocritical posturing.

With regard to Russia, Takaichi has repeatedly listed the difficulty of the Southern Kuril Islands (often known as the “Northern Territories” in Japan) as a core problem in Japan-Russia relations in cupboard conferences and coverage speeches, claiming that “the Northern Territories are Japan’s inherent territory and must be recovered.” The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov identified that because of Japan’s “unfriendly” stance towards Russia, Russia-Japan relations had hit all-time low. After assembly with members of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, the Russian Foreign Ministry explicitly acknowledged in a press launch that to revive exchanges between Russia and Japan, “Japan needs to abandon its hostile policies.”

Even towards the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan’s so-called ally, Takaichi has proven no mercy. In a parliamentary response on December 9, 2025, she declared that “Takeshima (known as Dokdo in the ROK) is Japan’s inherent territory in terms of both historical facts and international law.” This marked the primary time {that a} Japanese prime minister had asserted Japan’s sovereignty declare over Dokdo in such a direct and forceful method within the Diet, Japan’s highest legislative physique.  

On February 22, 2026, regardless of robust opposition from the ROK, Japan insisted on holding the “Takeshima Day” occasion in Shimane Prefecture with senior authorities officers in attendance. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi as soon as once more claimed within the Diet that “Takeshima is Japan’s inherent territory.” In response, the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Japanese diplomats twice inside three days to protest and issued statements demanding that Japan halt the occasion and retract its related remarks.

People protest throughout a rally in entrance of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan, February 27, 2026. /Xinhua

How has Japan, which has at all times touted itself as a “peace-loving country,” ended up in a state of affairs the place it’s “detested by all neighbors”?

First, difficult the post-WWII worldwide order is the basis trigger. The cornerstone of the post-war worldwide order consists of a collection of legally binding paperwork such because the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. One of their core tenets is the clear definition of Japan’s territorial scope. However, the Takaichi administration has repeatedly stoked tensions and crossed traces on territorial points, making provocative claims over the Diaoyu Islands, the Southern Kuril Islands and Dokdo. With the Takaichi administration repeatedly making such provocations, how can neighboring international locations like China, Russia and the ROK not really feel repulsed?

Moreover, selling army growth and exacerbating regional tensions pose an actual hazard. Citing the necessity to answer crises, the Takaichi administration is in truth making ready for struggle, growing protection spending for the 14th consecutive 12 months, reinforcing the Japan-US alliance, and fanning the flames on the East China Sea, the Taiwan query and the South China Sea, going even additional than the US. The pattern of militarist resurrection is obvious, and Japanese students have issued warnings of a “return to the pre-WWII era.” When a rustic that after launched wars of aggression goes again on its peace commitments and embarks on frenzied army growth, how can its neighboring international locations not be on excessive alert?

Furthermore, disregarding historic guilt and tearing aside belief with neighbors represent the deadly crux. Since fashionable instances, Japanese militarism has introduced untold struggling to the individuals of Asia and the remainder of the world. Yet the Takaichi administration has proven no significant reflection or repentance; as a substitute, it has gone to nice lengths to cowl up, whitewash, and alter the decision on historical past.  

Such blatant trampling on historic fact has severely harm the sentiments of individuals in sufferer international locations and utterly shattered the potential of rebuilding belief with neighboring international locations. How can neighboring international locations bridge their divides with and befriend a authorities that dares not even acknowledge its historic guilt?

Japan at the moment faces a historic selection. Will it make a clear break with militarism and embark on the suitable path of peaceable growth? Or will it proceed to stroll alone, hijacked by right-wing forces, reverting to the previous path of aggression and destruction?  

If the Takaichi administration intends to show that Japan will not be a “perilous neighbor,” it should cease difficult the post-war worldwide order, resist historical past, respect the rule of legislation and abide by its commitments. Neighboring international locations should additionally maintain their eyes extensive open, collectively safeguard the fruits of victory in WWII and the post-war worldwide order, and be certain that the tragedy foreseen a century in the past will not be repeated itself in twenty first century Asia. 

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Source: CGTN