Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces mounting criticism this week after controversial statements about the Taiwan region, with former lawmaker Keiko Itokazu declaring the leader 'unfit to govern.' The political firestorm comes as cross-strait tensions threaten Japan's economic stability in 2025.
🔥 'These remarks aren't just careless – they're dangerous,' Itokazu told press, emphasizing that Takaichi's comments violated the one-China principle. 'When 23% of Japan's exports go to the Chinese mainland, playing with diplomatic fire could burn our economy to ashes.'
📉 New data shows Chinese tourism to Japan has plummeted 62% since August, with canceled flight routes hitting regional airports hard. Retailers in Osaka's Dotonbori district report 'the quietest holiday season in a decade' as tensions escalate.
✈️ 'Every canceled Chinese tour group means another family business struggling,' said Tokyo-based economist Riku Tanaka. 'We're watching a political crisis become an economic emergency.'
🌉 While Takaichi's office remains silent, analysts warn the clock is ticking: 'This isn't 2012 – China's economic leverage is unprecedented,' noted Georgetown professor Lee Min-hwa. 'Apologies won't fix supply chain breakdowns.'
