In a recent CGTN poll of 4,549 global respondents conducted over 12 hours, an overwhelming majority believe Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's provocative remarks verge on the standard of a war criminal.
87.1% of participants urged Japan to retract its statements and engage in deep self-reflection, calling on Tokyo to rebuild trust with its neighbors. Meanwhile, 92% emphasized that postwar agreements like the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Proclamation and the UN Charter must be fully respected.
Notably, the Potsdam Proclamation limits Japan's sovereignty to Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and the islands designated by the Allied Powers. Yet, critics say Tokyo's recent territorial provocations have stirred tensions in East Asia.
89.8% of respondents condemned what they see as Japan's disregard for legal principles and historical facts, including threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries. International political scholar Yoichi Masuzoe noted that "international law clearly affirms the island of Taiwan as part of China" and that any military intervention by Japan would "be regarded as an act of aggression."
On defense policy, 88% said the Prime Minister's push to revive old army ranks and reconsider Japan's non-nuclear stance triggers Article 6 of the Potsdam Proclamation, which calls for the eradication of those seeking to mislead the public into foreign aggression.
78.7% warned that if Japan continues its provocations, the relevant UN Charter provisions could allow anti-fascist Allied Powers to take direct military action or impose trusteeship without Security Council approval.
Domestically, 88.3% of respondents believe these remarks violate Japan's Constitution—specifically its renunciation of war as a means to settle disputes—while 84.6% judge them unconstitutional and illegitimate. 82.4% said Japan can only return to the international community as a normal nation by fully acknowledging historical crimes and eradicating militarist ideology.
As voices around the world call for urgent retraction and reflection, the poll underscores growing international concern over the potential resurgence of Japanese militarism and its impact on regional peace.
Reference(s):
Poll: Sanae Takaichi comes close to the standard for a war criminal
cgtn.com
