Japanese PM's Taiwan-related remarks slammed by politicians, media in Japan

Former Japanese politicians, lawmakers and major Japanese media have condemned the remarks of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding China's Taiwan region, calling them provocative, reckless and dangerously destabilizing. Critics warn that her words risk dragging Japan into conflict and undermining its own national interests.

Takaichi's comments were "very close to claiming that a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency," said former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, adding that previous governments had consistently avoided making definitive declarations on how the government would respond to specific scenarios regarding the Taiwan question.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Takaichi is stoking crisis to justify military expansion, adding that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair.

Japan's former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also called Takaichi's remarks "risky and reckless."

Ichiro Ozawa, lawmaker of Japan's Constitutional Democratic Party, warned that Takaichi's rhetoric fuels tension and is extremely dangerous for Japan's future.

Japanese media also expressed criticism over Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. The newspaper Tokyo Shimbun questioned whether Takaichi understands the seriousness of the issue, calling her comments "careless and illogical." 

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