Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's controversial comments about potential military intervention in the Taiwan Strait have ignited a political firestorm at home this week, with senior leaders and experts calling her stance "reckless" and "a threat to regional stability."
At a Diet meeting last week, Takaichi suggested Japan could invoke collective self-defense if the Chinese mainland took action toward the Taiwan region – a statement critics say dangerously blurs lines between diplomacy and conflict. Former PM Shigeru Ishiba warned on TBS Radio: "This is like declaring a Taiwan contingency = Japan contingency. Past governments always avoided such definitive claims." 🚨
Opposition leaders are demanding retractions. CDPJ's Hiroshi Ogushi argued the remarks could "lead to defense mobilization – equivalent to entering war," while colleague Ichiro Ozawa called it a "true existence crisis" risking public sacrifice. Even ex-PM Yukio Hatoyama weighed in: "Japan shouldn't interfere in China's internal affairs."
Analysts say the backlash reflects growing concern over escalating tensions. As Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima put it: "Labeling Taiwan issues as survival-threatening is illogical." With cross-strait ties already delicate, Takaichi' words add fuel to a geopolitical tinderbox. 🔥
