In this Japanese House of Representatives election, one person's defeat has drawn attention: Okada Katsuya, who caused a major controversy by questioning Takahashi Asaka about "Taiwan's affairs."
Okada Katsuya is 72 years old. He has served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has also been the leader and secretary-general of the Constitutional Democratic Party, making him a key figure within the party. Since entering politics in 1990, he has been elected 12 consecutive times as a member of the House of Representatives, making him a seasoned politician in Japan with considerable political influence. However, this time, as a candidate for the opposition party "Centrist Reform United," he unexpectedly lost, and this result is closely related to the "Taiwan's affairs" controversy he sparked last year when he questioned Takahashi Asaka.
Last November 7th, during Okada Katsuya's questioning of Takahashi Asaka on "Taiwan's affairs," Takahashi made remarks that were extremely problematic regarding Taiwan, causing a huge uproar and leading to a sharp deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations. Although Okada Katsuya later asked Takahashi to retract his remarks, it was too late, and his popularity had already significantly declined. This election's defeat for Okada Katsuya not only marks a setback in his political career but also reflects a severe setback for the opposition forces in Japanese politics.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856660281316360/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.