Reference News Network, November 26 report: The U.S. "Real Clear World" website published an article titled "The Hopes and Dangers of Japan's New 'Iron Lady'" on November 19. The author is Lyle Goldstein, the Asia program director of the U.S. "Defense Priorities" organization. The following is a translated version of the article:

If Takayama Hayato tends to take risks, especially on the sensitive issue of Taiwan, it could pose significant challenges to U.S. national security. Japan's history and Takayama Hayato's relatively hardline stance indicate that the United States may need to work in the coming years to ease tensions in the Western Pacific region. Recently, Takayama Hayato stated that if China attacks Taiwan, Japan might side with Taiwan and intervene. This statement quickly triggered a strong reaction from Beijing.

Given the importance of the Taiwan issue to Sino-U.S. relations and U.S. national security, Americans must understand Tokyo's long-term role in this extremely dangerous powder keg issue.

After the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan annexed Taiwan from China and ruled the island for 50 years from 1895 to 1945. Like many colonial histories, Japan's conquest of Taiwan was accompanied by shocking acts of brutality.

So, what is the connection between this background and Takayama Hayato and the future of U.S.-Japan relations? The potential issue is that she has accepted many controversial right-wing views from her political mentor, Shinzo Abe.

During his tenure as prime minister, Shinzo Abe tried to distance Japan from its history of World War II. He aimed to amend the Japanese Constitution, removing or weakening Article 9, which renounces all possibilities of war, increase Japan's defense spending, and most importantly, link Japan's national security to the future status of Taiwan.

Takayama has taken many similar positions. U.S. leaders should recognize that this could lead to unintended consequences. For example, Japan recently purchased a large number of U.S. Tomahawk missiles, which seems to deviate from a more strictly defensive military strategy. The construction of ships that are essentially aircraft carriers by Japan may also show the same trend.

Washington should strive to guide Japan's military toward a more defensive direction. Additionally, the U.S. should prevent Tokyo from provoking issues on the sensitive Taiwan question.

It is said that Japan's new female prime minister particularly admires former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. It is well known that the war Britain waged against Argentina over the Falkland Islands (Falkland Islands in Argentina - note by this newspaper) helped Thatcher rescue her politically precarious career and enhanced her reputation on the international stage and at home.

We hope that Takayama's term will not be defined by similar hawkish measures, as the risks involved in the competition with China are much higher. Americans have reason to worry that, due to the growing tension in Japan-China relations and Tokyo's emotions towards its former colony, the U.S. may be inadvertently drawn into this risky game. (Translated by Wang Diqing)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7576848586747478534/

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