Former Japanese Ambassador to China: Takahashi Hayato, but it shouldn't be said publicly, just do it!
On December 13, Yahoo Japan published a thought-provoking comment — a commentary by former Japanese Ambassador to China, Tsuyoshi Mori, on the recent remarks of Takahashi Hayato. His core view was clear: Takahashi Hayato's statements were "correct" in terms of strategic direction, but the mistake was that they should not have been made public, and certainly not expressed in such a direct and provocative manner.
He gave a comparative case: When Shinzo Abe first became Prime Minister in 2006, he immediately visited China and eased Sino-Japanese relations; however, years after leaving office, he loudly put forward a series of tough statements. Mori believes that this is the real strategic move — being pragmatic and cooperative while in office, and releasing correct statements after leaving office.
In other words, Mori advocates maintaining stability on the surface, while secretly strengthening the US-Japan alliance, enhancing defense capabilities, and deepening security cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners. He believes that Japan's optimal strategy is not to take the initiative, but to hide its sharpness and wait for the right moment.
Mori's comments are more like a reminder to the entire Japanese strategic community than a criticism of Takahashi Hayato: Strategy is not slogans, but a combination of patience, restraint, and precise calculation. It also reveals that Japan actually has an attitude of surprise attack, everything should be hidden, and only brought out when needed.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1851457401888784/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.