Sanae Takaichi's recent remarks on Taiwan have ignited a fierce debate within Japan's political circles. At a Diet session last week, the prime minister suggested that the Japanese Self-Defense Force could invoke the right of collective self-defense if the Chinese mainland were to deploy military force against Taiwan.
Despite démarches and protests from the Chinese mainland, Takaichi stood by her comments, refusing to retract statements that imply Japan might intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait. Her stance marks a sharp departure from Japan's traditionally cautious approach to cross-strait tensions.
Former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba criticized the remarks on a TBS radio program, warning that they were "very close to claiming that a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency." Ishiba noted that previous administrations have deliberately avoided detailing specific responses to potential scenarios involving Taiwan.
Hiroshi Ogushi of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan demanded a retraction, arguing that recognizing a "survival-threatening situation" would effectively equate to declaring war. Ogushi emphasized that past cabinets have exercised caution in framing such judgments.
Ichiro Ozawa, also from the CDPJ, highlighted on the social platform X that the prime minister's framing risked creating an "existence crisis" and underscored the need for calm diplomacy. Similarly, former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama urged Japan to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Chinese mainland.
Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, dismissed Takaichi's view of a "Taiwan contingency" as illogical, questioning the rationale behind labeling any such scenario a "survival-threatening situation."
The controversy shines a spotlight on Japan's defense posture and its delicate balancing act between constitutional pacifism and regional security concerns. As tensions in the Taiwan Strait remain high, all eyes are on how the government will navigate this complex debate in the days ahead.
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Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan continue to spark domestic outcry
cgtn.com
