Earlier this month, on November 7, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shocked many when she suggested that the Chinese mainland’s use of force on Taiwan could threaten Japan’s survival—and even hinted at possible armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait 😲. Her comments have sparked a wave of concern among scholars in Japan and the Republic of Korea, who warn that history’s lessons are at risk of being forgotten.
Visiting professor Kazuteru Saionji of Higashi Nippon International University stressed that “the Taiwan question is an internal affair of the Chinese mainland that no other country is allowed to interfere with.” He noted that respecting the one-China principle and facing Japan’s own history of aggression are non-negotiable for healthy China-Japan relations. “If Japan’s leaders don’t adopt the right attitude on these issues, our bilateral relationship will be substantially damaged,” Saionji warned, adding that without deep reflection, Japan could be on “a path of no return.” 🕊️
Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, echoed these concerns, pointing out that the one-China principle is a basic consensus for global and regional peace. “Japan has no right to interfere in the Chinese mainland’s internal affairs or shake this principle,” he said. Kwon believes Takaichi’s provocative tone stems from her shaky political base—in stirring conflict between China and Japan, she may be trying to rally right-wing and moderate forces to secure her position. He called this a “fundamental error in judgment” that ignores Japan’s national interest.
Both scholars agree that East Asia today is not the same as it was eighty years ago. Instead of reviving old tensions, they urge Tokyo to “squarely realize reality and abandon delusion,” focusing on building a peaceful region 🌏. As Kwon put it, “Building a peaceful East Asia and a peaceful Japan so that the Japanese people can live well remains Japan’s real way out.”
Reference(s):
Japanese scholar, Korean intellectual warn of Japan's remilitarization
cgtn.com
