Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing fierce criticism from her own political peers and media over recent comments about the Taiwan region, with critics calling her stance “reckless” and a potential trigger for conflict. Former leaders and lawmakers have slammed the remarks as dangerously provocative amid rising cross-strait tensions.
🔊 Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba warned Takaichi’s words edged toward treating a Taiwan contingency as a “Japan contingency,” breaking from decades of cautious diplomacy. “Previous governments avoided definitive declarations on Taiwan scenarios for good reason,” he told media.
💥 Ex-PM Yukio Hatoyama accused Takaichi of exploiting the issue to justify military expansion, stressing that “the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair.” Meanwhile, Yoshihiko Noda, another former leader, labeled her remarks “risky” and out of step with Japan’s interests.
📰 Major Japanese outlets joined the backlash. The Tokyo Shimbun questioned whether Takaichi grasped the gravity of her statements, calling them “careless” and lacking logic. Lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa added that her rhetoric “fuels tension” and endangers Japan’s future.
🌐 The controversy comes as cross-strait relations remain delicate. Analysts say Takaichi’s approach risks alienating regional partners and destabilizing East Asia’s fragile peace. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
