Japanese PM's erroneous remarks on Taiwan continue to spark domestic outcry

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's provocative remarks on Taiwan last week have drawn heavy criticism from senior political figures, experts and the media at home.

At a Diet meeting last week, Takaichi claimed that the Japanese Self-Defense Force could exercise the right of collective self-defense if the Chinese mainland "uses military forces against Taiwan." Despite China's serious démarches and protests, she refused to retract her remarks that imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.

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

Hiroshi Ogushi of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), quoted by Jiji Press on Tuesday, had demanded Takaichi revoke the remarks.

"If a 'survival-threatening situation' is recognized, it would lead to a defense mobilization. This is a judgment equivalent to entering a war, and past cabinets have been cautious in making such statements," Ogushi said.

Ichiro Ozawa, a member of the House of Representatives from the CDPJ, posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday that "this has become a true 'existence crisis,' which ultimately forces great sacrifices on the people," and said "that is why diplomacy and politics must always remain calm."

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama responded again on X on Tuesday to Takaichi's erroneous remarks, stating that Japan should not interfere in China's internal affairs.

Mizuho Fukushima, leader of Japan's Social Democratic Party, said on Friday that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's view of a "Taiwan contingency" as a "survival-threatening situation" is completely illogical.

In an interview with CGTN, Takakage Fujita, secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, said that the Taiwan question is an internal affair of China.

Citing the "Joint Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Japan" issued when China and Japan normalized diplomatic relations in 1972, which effectively recognized that Taiwan belongs to China, Fujita said Takaichi's recent remarks trample on the historical process up to now.

"They can only be described as extremely problematic and foolish."

Fujita went on saying that another serious problem with Takaichi's remarks is that she, in effect, treated Taiwan as a "country." He added that this is an extremely serious mistake.

Acknowledging the Japanese government has never recognized Taiwan as a country, Fujita said Takaichi's claim to mobilize the Self-Defense Force, or even take military action for an entity it doesn't recognize as a country means that her remarks contain a double error.

"This is an extremely serious mistake and also violates Japanese law."

Japanese media also questioned Takaichi for her irresponsible remarks. On Tuesday, the Nikkei criticized Takaichi for abandoning "strategic ambiguity."

Mainichi newspaper said in an editorial that Takaichi's comments reveal a lack of awareness regarding the gravity of the issue, noting that she must recognize that careless statements can become diplomatic flashpoints.

The Yomiuri Shimbun said in an editorial on Thursday that exploiting security policy for political gain is utterly unacceptable, noting that politicians should not play politics with serious issues.

(With input from agencies)