On November 14, 2025, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about China’s Taiwan region set off a wave of criticism across Japan.
Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba blasted the comments as “very close to claiming that a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” noting that past administrations had avoided such definitive statements on potential scenarios in the Taiwan question.
Yukio Hatoyama, another former PM, accused Takaichi of stoking a crisis to justify military expansion, emphasizing that the Taiwan question is an internal affair of China.
Ex-PM Yoshihiko Noda also weighed in, labeling the remarks “risky and reckless,” while Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa warned that this rhetoric could fuel tensions and endanger Japan’s future.
Major Japanese outlets joined the chorus of dissent. The Tokyo Shimbun questioned whether Takaichi grasps the gravity of the issue, calling her comments “careless and illogical.”
The backlash comes as China summoned Japan’s ambassador in protest and demanded that Tokyo reflect on the historical roots of the Taiwan question.
Critics warn that Takaichi’s words risk dragging Japan into conflict and undermining its own strategic interests by tying the country too closely to potential cross-strait tensions.
As debates intensify, all eyes are on whether the Prime Minister will clarify or retract her stance to ease regional nerves.
Reference(s):
Japan PM's Taiwan remarks slammed by politicians, media in Japan
cgtn.com
