Japanese lawmaker urges Takaichi to retract Taiwan remarks to ease tensions

A Japanese opposition lawmaker has called on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to withdraw her remarks regarding China's Taiwan region, warning that Japan's relations with China are deteriorating and the situation will continue to worsen unless the remarks are retracted.

Taro Yamamoto, a member of Japan's House of Councilors and leader of the opposition Reiwa Shinsengumi, said in a recent speech that escalating tensions between Japan and China would cause "serious damage" to Japan. He argued that Takaichi's statements contradicted the Japanese government's previous diplomatic position.

"Takaichi says China is overreacting, but the real issue is not China. It is that the Japanese government made statements that deviated from its official diplomatic stance," Yamamoto said, adding that Japan should retract the erroneous remarks as Japan is the one who made the initial mistake.

In a separate event, Yamamoto also criticized Japan's recent moves to expand its military capabilities and provoke neighboring countries, saying such actions would only "invite danger."

He argued that Japan must confront its own mistakes and that defending or downplaying Takaichi's remarks would ultimately harm Japan's national interests.

"In this heated atmosphere, if we avoid facing the facts and simply charge ahead, we risk making serious mistakes – even triggering conflict," he said.

"China is issuing such strong warnings because we have forgotten the root of the problem. We must not forget that," Yamamoto added.