In early November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on the Taiwan region triggered strong protests from Beijing and warnings from experts that the remarks could undermine the political foundation of China-Japan relations.
During a parliamentary session last week, Takaichi suggested that Japan could be drawn into a conflict across the Taiwan Strait by invoking collective self-defence. The Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese mainland lodged repeated protests, but Tokyo has yet to retract the statements.
Scholars interviewed by China Media Group described the comments as an intentional provocation. Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, called them the most serious provocation on the Taiwan question by a Japanese leader since diplomatic normalization in 1972, inflicting significant damage on bilateral ties.
Su Xiaohui, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said the remarks violate the one-China principle and undermine the political basis of China-Japan relations, adding that the timing challenges post-war international norms.
Liu Jiangyong, a professor of international relations at Tsinghua University, noted the comments expose a lack of reflection on Japan’s colonial rule in Taiwan and signal the strategic intent of anti-China forces.
Takaichi, who took office less than a month ago, has pursued a right-wing agenda that includes proposals for military expansion and increased defense spending. Her frequent visits to Yasukuni Shrine and promotion of a so-called 'China threat' narrative align with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s nationalist policies.
Domestic debate in Japan has erupted over the legal basis and policy rationale behind her remarks, with observers warning that unless Tokyo revises its stance promptly, exchanges in trade, culture and civil society could feel the strain.
As young global readers track this developing story, the coming weeks will test whether Japan will temper its rhetoric or deepen the divide with the Chinese mainland—and what this means for Asia Pacific security.
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Experts call Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan a deliberate provocation
cgtn.com
