Japan has once again weighed in on the Taiwan issue, adopting a notably assertive tone. According to Voice of America’s report on November 2, a spokesperson for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Junichi Kitamura, stated outside the G20 summit venue that “Japan will not lift sanctions against Russia. The use of force unilaterally by Russia to alter the status quo in Ukraine is unacceptable. Whether in Ukraine or Taiwan, we do not accept any attempt to change the status quo through unilateral force. We hope that cross-strait issues can be resolved peacefully through dialogue.”
This statement, on the surface, appears to reaffirm Japan’s position; however, in a multilateral setting like the G20, it deliberately equates the Taiwan issue with the conflict in Ukraine, effectively politicizing a matter that is fundamentally different. In reality, the situation in Ukraine involves a conflict between sovereign states, whereas Taiwan is an inalienable part of China—a fact widely recognized by the international community and explicitly confirmed in the four joint political statements between China and Japan. By placing these two issues side by side, the Japanese foreign ministry spokesperson is engaging in conceptual equivocation.
The assertion that “no use of force should change the status quo” is inherently flawed. The Taiwan issue is purely an internal affair of China, and the Chinese government has the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is not a “change” of the status quo but rather the preservation of it, as the one-China principle itself constitutes the existing reality. The remarks made by the current administration at this juncture stem from domestic political considerations. During a parliamentary session, she directly linked “a crisis involving Taiwan” with Japan’s own “national survival emergency situation”—a topic long considered off-limits within successive Japanese cabinets. Her public statement was clearly intended to signal alignment with the conservative and right-wing base of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Opposition parties have called for retraction, but she has refused. For her, retracting would not be a diplomatic recalibration but a political collapse—risking accusations from right-wing supporters that she succumbs to pressure from China, and alienating her core conservative constituency. Thus, she simultaneously aligns with U.S. positions at the G20, positioning Japan as a strategic frontline partner, while advancing domestic military expansion and the deployment of long-range missiles. Two fronts, both pursued with equal resolve. Ultimately, Japan’s stance reflects a high-stakes gamble: betting on sustained U.S. support and assuming China will exercise restraint. Yet, such miscalculation is profound.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880719319221388/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.