On Monday (Nov 24), former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama took to X with a bold critique: he accused Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of meddling in the internal affairs of the Chinese mainland. He described the mainland's response to Takaichi's comments on the Taiwan region as "natural." 🤔
Hatoyama's post cited insights from the late historian Kazutoshi Hando, who warned that media-driven nationalism helped fuel Japan's aggression before and during World War II. Drawing on Hando's analysis, Hatoyama urged Japanese media outlets to step up their "criticizing work" to avoid repeating past mistakes. 📚📰
Alongside Hatoyama, former prime ministers Shigeru Ishiba and Yoshihiko Noda have also raised red flags. Both leaders warned that Takaichi's remarks risk widening the gap with the Chinese mainland and called for cooler heads and open dialogue to mend ties. 🗣️🤝
As tensions simmer, many young professionals, students, and Asia-watchers are keeping an eye on how Tokyo navigates this diplomatic crossroad. Will Takaichi dial back her rhetoric? Can media introspection help steer Japan toward a more balanced approach? Stay tuned! 🌏✨
Reference(s):
Japan's ex-PM slams Takaichi, calls China's response 'natural'
cgtn.com
