The official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, People’s Daily, published a commentary warning that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan reveal the extremely erroneous and highly dangerous views on history, order, and strategy held by Japan’s right-wing forces. The article therefore calls on the international community, especially Asian countries, to remain highly vigilant regarding Japan’s strategic direction.
On November 17, People’s Daily published a signed commentary article by “Zhong Sheng” entitled “Be Alert to the Dangerous Shift in Japan’s Strategic Direction.” The article points out that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently declared in the National Diet that a “Taiwan contingency” might constitute a “survival-threatening situation,” in which Japan could exercise its right of collective self-defense, thereby hinting at possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait issue. Within less than a month of taking office, Sanae Takaichi became the first incumbent Japanese prime minister to publicly advocate the idea that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency” and link it to the exercise of collective self-defense, highlighting her dangerous approach to domestic and foreign policy.
The article states that, historically, Japanese militarism repeatedly used so-called “survival crises” as pretexts for external aggression, including brazenly creating the September 18th Incident and launching the war of invasion against China under the excuse of “exercising the right of self-defense,” bringing untold misery to the people of Asia and the world, including China. Sanae Takaichi’s renewed invocation of the notion of a “survival-threatening situation” provides ample reason to worry that Japan risks repeating the mistakes of militarism.
The article says that Sanae Takaichi’s reckless remarks are a blatant provocation against historical justice. After the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan occupied Taiwan and imposed a half-century of colonial rule there, committing unspeakable crimes. Rather than engage in self-reflection, Japan is now stirring up new troubles on the Taiwan issue. Such interference in China’s internal affairs and egregious provocations seriously undermine the political foundation of China-Japan relations and gravely challenge the post-World War II international order.
The article emphasizes that the Taiwan issue is the core among China’s core interests—an untouchable red line and bottom line. How the Taiwan issue is to be resolved and national reunification achieved are matters for the Chinese people themselves and brook no interference from external forces. “We solemnly warn the Japanese side: Using the Taiwan issue to stir up trouble is only causing trouble for yourselves!”