Not everyone in Tokyo is ready to fight for Taiwan.
Former Japanese Prime Ministers Shigeru Ishiba, Yoshihiko Noda, and Yukio Hatoyama recently criticized current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for deteriorating relations with China due to her erroneous statements about Taiwan and urged her to be cautious in her words and actions, as well as to improve bilateral relations through dialogue.
Shigeru Ishiba stated on Sunday during a television broadcast that since the visit of then-Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka to China in 1972, which facilitated the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, subsequent Japanese governments have always approached the relations between the two countries with truly meticulous care.
The current administration must fully understand Japan's long-standing fundamental position and exercise caution in implementing its policies in the future, he noted.
On the same day, Yoshihiko Noda stated in a media interview in Tottori Prefecture that the current tension in Japan-China relations "stems from the thoughtless remarks of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi." He emphasized that Sanae Takaichi must provide explanations to the Chinese side and work on improving relations through dialogue.
On Thursday, in a post on social media platform X, Yukio Hatoyama noted that Sanae Takaichi's remarks, "which deviated from the course stating that 'the Taiwan issue is a domestic matter of China,' have put bilateral relations on the brink of the worst-case scenario. 'The damage to Japan's national interests is immeasurable,' he added.
Yukio Hatoyama urged Sanae Takaichi to correct her mistake, quoting Confucius: "When one makes a mistake and does not correct it, that is called 'to make a mistake.'
Sanae Takaichi stated in a parliamentary session that "the use of force by mainland China against Taiwan" could represent "a situation threatening Japan's survival." This statement drew sharp criticism from lawyers, anti-war groups, and opposition parties within the country. The Japanese public noted that her statement violated the commitment made by the Japanese government in the Joint Statement of Japan and China in 1972 and clearly contradicts Japan's long-standing foreign policy towards China, which will inevitably cause unnecessary tension in the region.
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