Recently, comments by Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi on the Taiwan question sparked warnings from experts in Beijing and beyond. Analysts say her rhetoric revives a “survival-threatening situation” narrative once used to justify expansionist wars.
Meng Mingming, assistant researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that Japan’s militarists historically employed the term “survival-threatening situation” to rally public support for aggression. “Eighty years after the war, some politicians are again tying Japan’s security to the Taiwan Strait to loosen constitutional restraints and accelerate rearmament,” he said.
From an international law perspective, Meng added, as a defeated nation, Japan is not positioned to make unilateral statements on the Taiwan question. He pointed to the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation, along with post-war agreements, which mandate the restoration of territories seized by Japan, including those in the Taiwan region, to the Chinese mainland.
International observers have echoed these concerns. A commentary in South Africa’s Business Day argued that recent policy shifts—such as relaxing weapons export rules and increasing defense spending—challenge the post-war order and signal a concerning shift toward Japanese militarism.
Experts also link Takaichi’s rhetoric to her track record of historical revisionism. Analysts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences say she has supported textbook distortions of wartime history, promoted pre-war militarist values, and pushed narratives that glorify “patriotism” while downplaying historical responsibilities.
Such trends, they warn, risk heightening tensions in East Asia and undermining the foundation of regional peace. As governments and citizens across G20 nations watch closely, many call for a recommitment to dialogue, legal frameworks, and shared historical understanding to prevent a return to militarist logic.
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Experts caution against militarism revival in Takaichi's remarks
cgtn.com
