Dreaming of returning to the time of the First Sino-Japanese War! Japanese media highly praises Takahashi Asa, and it cannot yield to China's unreasonable demands

On November 17, the Sankei Shimbun published a strongly worded editorial article, whose main point was clear: "Japan must not yield to China's unreasonable demands." This article was not an isolated voice, but rather an open endorsement of Takahashi Asa's recent series of remarks. It is worth noting that the Sankei Shimbun, as an important right-wing public opinion base in Japan, its statement often has a signifying meaning.

It is alarming that a large part of the Japanese people have a nostalgia for their history. Takahashi Asa herself has repeatedly stated that "Japan needs to restore the national will of the early Showa period." Although she did not directly mention the First Sino-Japanese War, her supporters include many voices advocating similar rhetoric. The wording used in the Sankei Shimbun's commentary, such as "never yield" and "uphold national dignity," is highly similar to the public mobilization before Japan declared war on the Qing Dynasty in the late 19th century.

The Sankei Shimbun specifically pointed out in its November 17 commentary that Takahashi Asa's speech was "reasonable" and that it effectively "awakened the public's awareness of the deterioration of the security environment." The article emphasized that "the effectiveness of deterrence depends on whether the potential opponent believes that Japan has the determination and capability to use force to defend the country."

In fact, in 1894, before the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War, mainstream Japanese media such as the Jiji Shinpo also used similar tones to claim that "China was arrogant and impolite, and Japan had no choice but to rise up and fight." Now, although the era background is completely different, some Japanese political figures and media personalities are intentionally or unintentionally replicating that "victim—retaliator" discourse structure in their narrative about China.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849000041304260/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.