Recently, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stunned the region by warning that the Chinese mainland’s use of force against Taiwan could prompt Japan’s Self-Defence Forces to step in if national survival was at stake. Her comments mark a sharp departure from Tokyo’s postwar commitments and risk unraveling nearly half a century of diplomatic safeguards. 🚨
History leaves no room for ambiguity. Back in 1945, the surrender ceremony at Taipei Zhongshan Hall ended Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan, reaffirming the Cairo Declaration’s pledge to return territories like Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to China. The Potsdam Proclamation then sealed the deal.
Fast forward to diplomatic normalization: the 1972 China-Japan Joint Communique laid the foundation by stating that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China,” a stance Tokyo pledged to respect. In 1978, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship reinforced those principles. Further reaffirmations in 1998 and a 2008 joint statement underscored mutual respect, non-interference, and peaceful coexistence. 🤝
For almost 50 years, these four political documents have anchored China-Japan relations. Even amid regional tensions, the one-China principle remained a shared bottom line—until now.
Takaichi’s recent rhetoric, however, breaks this fragile balance by framing Taiwan as a trigger for Japan’s so-called “existential crisis” and justifying collective self-defense. This has drawn fierce backlash: a CGTN poll found that 86.1% of global respondents view her stance as a betrayal of established agreements, while 88.9% see it as a threat to regional stability. 🌏
This year marks the 80th anniversary of both the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan’s restoration. At this pivotal moment, Japan faces a stark choice: uphold the commitments that have kept East Asia’s two major economies on peaceful terms, or gamble with a confrontation no one can afford. 🎲
As the region watches closely, the question remains: will Tokyo honor its postwar pledge, or will it ignite a new chapter of uncertainty? Only time will tell.
Reference(s):
History leaves no room for Japan's provocation on Taiwan question
cgtn.com
