* Valery Kistanov, a Japan skilled on the Russian Academy of Science, described Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan as “unprecedented,” warning they might heighten regional tensions and threat triggering battle.
* Japanese newspaper Tokyo Shimbun revealed an editorial criticizing Takaichi’s reckless and provocative remarks for stoking antagonism and harming the pursuits of each international locations.
TOKYO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) — Despite repeated representations from China, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has refused to repent for her blatant and provocative rhetoric on Taiwan.
Her blatant suggestion of doable army involvement within the Taiwan Strait drew worldwide criticism for reviving militarism and threatening regional stability, and political figures and observers in Japan and overseas warn that such remarks might drag the nation right into a nationwide disaster.
RIGHT WING RHETORIC
During a current parliamentary listening to, Takaichi cited the so-called “survival-threatening situation” — a set off designed by the controversial 2015 regulation — and linked it to the Taiwan query, suggesting Tokyo would possibly deal with the Taiwan query as grounds for army involvement beneath the laws.
Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba famous that Takaichi’s place is virtually equal to declaring “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” which means Japan’s doable army involvement within the Taiwan Strait.
Yoshihiko Noda, the chief of the CDPJ and former prime minister, stated that Takaichi “went too far,” creating pointless pressure in relations with China.
Analysts say Takaichi’s fallacies concerning China are not at all an remoted incident however a part of a broader agenda by right-wing forces to revive and bolster militarism.
In current years, Japan has reshaped its safety coverage, boosting protection spending, easing arms-export restrictions, pursuing offensive weapons improvement, and shifting additional down a troubling path of army growth.
Before taking workplace, Takaichi has repeatedly made anti-China statements, puffed up the “China threat” narrative, and made irresponsible remarks on the Taiwan query.
However, no earlier Japanese right-wing prime minister had ever publicly linked a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan to the Taiwan query. As the sitting prime minister, Takaichi’s remarks “break precedent,” Japan’s TV Asahi commented.
Takaichi’s remarks expose her right-wing nature, which is considerably inevitable given the rising affect of extremist forces in Japan’s political local weather, stated Xiang Haoyu, a specifically appointed analysis fellow within the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute of International Studies.
LEGALLY BASELESS
Experts and officers in Japan say Takaichi’s Taiwan rhetoric lacks a authorized foundation, desecrates historical past, and dangers undermining regional stability.
Takaichi’s “survival-threatening situation” remarks lack a authorized basis and a rigorous verification course of, and seem extra like private opinions casually expressed within the parliament, stated Ryo Sahashi, a professor on the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia on the University of Tokyo.
Japan’s Legislation for Peace and Security, which lifted the ban on collective self-defense, clearly stipulates {that a} “survival-threatening situation” refers to an armed assault towards a overseas nation with which Japan maintains a detailed relationship, stated Zhao Hongwei, a professor at Tokyo-based Hosei University.
Noting that Taiwan isn’t a rustic and that the Japanese authorities has by no means acknowledged it as one, Zhao stated that this provision of the 2015 safety laws doesn’t apply to the scenario within the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s standing as a part of China is enshrined in worldwide regulation, stated Yoichi Masuzoe, former governor of Tokyo and scholar of worldwide politics, including that any Japanese army intervention could be thought-about aggression.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama stated Japan respects Taiwan’s standing as a part of China, noting that the Taiwan query is a matter of China’s inside affairs and that Japan shouldn’t intervene.
Yuki Izumikawa, a particular analysis fellow at Okinawa University, stated Takaichi’s declare that her Taiwan remarks align with the Japanese authorities’s longstanding view is at odds with the info.
“I sincerely hope that Japanese politicians will review the solemn commitments Japan has made to the Chinese government over the past decades before speaking on the Taiwan question,” Izumikawa stated.
Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks desecrate historic justice and repackage militarism, aiming to pave the best way for Japan’s future army growth, stated Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, including that such political maneuvers are certain to face opposition from regional international locations.
GRAVE CONSEQUENCES
Ichiro Ozawa, a member of the House of Representatives from the CDPJ, stated Takaichi’s speech has turn out to be a real “existence crisis,” which finally forces nice sacrifices on the individuals.
His concern is echoed broadly in Japan and overseas — Takaichi’s rhetoric sends a harmful sign, undermining regional peace and finally harming Japan itself.
Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang social gathering, accused Takaichi of creating remarks that push Taiwan to the brink of hazard and reveal the lingering shadow of Japanese militarism.
Valery Kistanov, a Japan skilled on the Russian Academy of Science, described Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan as “unprecedented,” warning they might heighten regional tensions and threat triggering battle.
Julia Roknifard, a senior lecturer at Taylor’s University in Malaysia, urged Japan to concentrate on its home socio-economic challenges reasonably than turning into a supply of instability in East Asia.
Domestically, Japanese officers and media have additionally voiced concern that Takaichi’s remarks may hurt Japan-China ties.
Japanese Communist Party and House of Councillors member Taku Yamazoe famous that Takaichi’s remarks have escalated tensions between Japan and China, undermining bilateral belief.
Japanese newspaper Tokyo Shimbun revealed an editorial criticizing Takaichi’s reckless and provocative remarks for stoking antagonism and harming the pursuits of each international locations.
Ichiro Ozawa, a member of the House of Representatives from the CDPJ, stated Takaichi’s remarks may cut back bilateral commerce and prohibit people-to-people exchanges between the 2 international locations.
Data reveals that China is Japan’s largest buying and selling accomplice, the second-largest export vacation spot and the largest supply of imports.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, Chinese vacationers ranked first in whole spending in Japan in 2024.
If Japan-China relations deteriorate, it will likely be the Japanese individuals who undergo, warned Takakage Fujita, the secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, including that Takaichi will bear accountability for the results.
(Video reporters: Yang Zhixiang, Chen Ze’an; video editors: Liang Wanshan, Hui Peipei)