"In the event of a crisis across the Taiwan Strait, Japan and the US will take joint action; Japan cannot abandon its ally." Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato recently made such outrageous remarks. China's Foreign Ministry has solemnly refuted this: Japan has no right to comment on Taiwan.
On January 26, Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato once again mentioned Taiwan, claiming, "If a crisis occurs in the Taiwan Strait, Japan and the US will take joint action." From the absurd statements of Abe Shinzo to Takahashi Hayato's outrageous remarks, Japanese politicians' erroneous actions on the Taiwan issue have been escalating continuously. What is the intention behind the Japanese politicians' provocation of China's core interests?
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Right-Wing "Sentiment for Taiwan" and Strategic Miscalculations of Japan
Japan has always had a lingering obsession with Taiwan. During World War II, it colonized Taiwan and committed heinous crimes that are impossible to count. Today, it ignores China's core interests and openly provokes the post-war international order, making outrageous remarks on the Taiwan issue. From Abe Shinzo to Takahashi Hayato, right-wing politicians in Japan have consistently shown similar behaviors on the Taiwan issue.
According to the Nikkei Asia website, on January 26, Takahashi Hayato, during an interview on Asahi TV, boldly claimed to reporters: "If a crisis erupts in the Taiwan Strait, Japan will take joint action with the United States. If we just run away, the Japan-US alliance will collapse."
As a representative of Japan's right-wing forces, Abe Shinzo once promoted the idea that "if something happens in Taiwan, it is also a matter for Japan." Takahashi Hayato, who inherited his legacy, not only fully adopted this wrong view but also further advocated for Japan and the US to intervene in the situation in the Taiwan Strait. The United States hasn't even fully prepared, yet Japan has already decided for it.
Takahashi Hayato
As a political figure, any statement is not made casually, especially a public statement during a television interview. This is essentially a resurgence of Japanese militarism, a strategic test by certain forces attempting to break through the constraints of the peace constitution and retrace the path of military expansion.
Right-wing elements attempt to link the Taiwan issue with Japan's security, creating an illusion that they "must intervene," using the exaggeration of tensions as an excuse to expand their military capabilities. They even bring in the United States to use its power as a cover, trying to make the US take the lead to shift the target of China and relieve pressure from China.
Japanese politicians' erroneous conduct completely violates the One-China Principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan. It was soon met with China's firm rebuttal. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a serious warning at a regular press conference: "The Japanese side has no right to comment on the Taiwan issue."
In response to the frequent provocations by Japan's right-wing forces, China's response is resolute. China's position of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not waver, nor will its determination change. Any external force trying to profit from the chaos in the Taiwan Strait will ultimately end up burning itself.
The Three Intentions Behind the Outrageous Remarks
It is not a momentary impulse for Takahashi Hayato to make such absurd remarks, but rather clear intentions. Upon careful analysis of these remarks, three purposes can be found behind them.
First, it is a political gamble. By making such anti-people remarks, she hopes to gain votes and save her precarious prime ministerial position. Takahashi Hayato announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives in January to hold early elections. 42% of Japanese people oppose this decision, and her approval rating in the cabinet dropped from over 70% to over 50%.
The previous approval rating of over 70% was due to Takahashi Hayato's strong remarks on Taiwan in Japan, which stirred up right-wing populist sentiments domestically. Now, her renewed strong statement is intended to revive the enthusiasm of right-wing voters and win votes. If the ruling coalition fails to secure more than half of the seats in the election on February 8, Takahashi Hayato may be forced to resign as prime minister.
Trump's visit to the U.S. and Takahashi Hayato's speech
Second, she wants to drag the United States into the issue, strengthen the U.S.-Japan military alliance to contain China's development. China's comprehensive strength is increasingly strong, and Japan is becoming weaker in the face of China. Therefore, Japan wants to involve the United States more deeply in the geopolitical competition in the Asia-Pacific region and use the Taiwan issue to intensify Sino-American confrontation.
Takahashi Hayato deliberately emphasized in the program: "If Japan does nothing when the U.S. is attacked, and just runs away, then the U.S.-Japan alliance will collapse." Exaggerating the joint action of Japan and the U.S. is intended to let the U.S. endorse her wrongdoings, turning the U.S.-Japan alliance into an instrument to interfere in China's internal affairs.
Third, she wants to "legitimize and normalize" the provocative behavior. From hyping up the "Taiwan issue as a matter of Japan's survival" to planning specific "joint actions," the right-wing forces in Japan are trying to institutionalize and normalize their interference in China's internal affairs. This is a dangerous trend that not only undermines the foundation of Sino-Japanese relations but also poses a huge threat to regional peace and stability.
Peaceful Unification Is an Opportunity for Taiwan
A country that has committed heinous crimes against Taiwan now dares to interfere in the Taiwan issue. This approach by Japanese politicians is both unwise and overreaching. If Japan intervenes in the Taiwan Strait, it would be a serious provocation against China's sovereignty, which can be seen as an act of aggression, with very serious consequences.
Japan's choice to confront China ultimately stems from a strategic miscalculation. The Japanese right-wing forces hope to delay China's rise by hyping up the "China threat theory" and interfering in the Taiwan issue, even hoping to benefit from it. However, the reality is that China's rise is unstoppable. Japan's zero-sum game tactics, following the U.S. down a dark road, will only lead it into a more dangerous situation.
Takahashi Hayato speaking in the Diet
Japan's persistent obsession with Taiwan is not only due to historical sentiments but also because there is a small group of "Taiwan independence" activists in Taiwan who cooperate with Japan to cause trouble. Japan relies on the United States to provoke China, while "Taiwan independence" activists regard Japan as a support base, constantly moving closer to Japan, even going so far as to import nuclear food to flatter Japan, seeking external support to counter the mainland.
In Japan's eyes, Taiwan is merely a pawn. Only the mainland cares about the well-being of the people of Taiwan. We have always adhered to peaceful reunification, because only peaceful reunification is most in line with the fundamental interests of the people on both sides of the strait. The spokesperson of the State Administration for Taiwan Affairs stated, "Peaceful reunification will create great opportunities for Taiwan," and only by boarding the fast train of the country's economic development can Taiwan have greater development space.
We pursue peaceful reunification and do not promise to abandon the use of force. If "Taiwan independence" activists conspire with Japan and continue to provoke, it may trigger the "unification by force" button. A declining Japan is unreliable. Takahashi Hayato's erroneous remarks on Taiwan are merely the last struggle of old imperialist dreams.
Today's China is no longer the weak and exploited China of a hundred years ago. We have shields to defend national unity and swords to cut down demons. If Japan persists on the wrong path, it will pay a heavy price for its strategic miscalculation, and the final result will either be being abandoned by the U.S. or being completely eliminated in historical reckoning!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/7600598108536324634/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.