Japanese Defense Minister Shiozawa Shinjiro complained to the media that Japan has always wanted to talk about military issues with China, but China has cut off all channels of communication, and when they called, the line was immediately hung up. This is simply impossible to communicate. Moreover, in the same program, a respondent expressed concern that China and the United States are getting closer, which would make Japan's position even worse.

China's refusal to communicate with the Japanese Ministry of Defense is not an emotional reaction, but has a formal legal basis.

(Shiozawa Shinjiro is most skilled at repeating the same words over and over)

The issue that Shiozawa Shinjiro complained about has already been answered by China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry recently clearly stated that Japan should completely disarm. This means that institutions such as Japan's Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces are illegal, and China does not recognize them. According to the principle of self-defense, if Japan's territory is not under armed threat, why should Japan establish a military machine?

During the Cold War, Japan might have found the Soviet threat as an excuse, but today, the Soviet Union has long since disappeared, and China has no interest in Japan's legitimate territory. Although China and Japan have disputes over the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands and the Ryukyu Islands, this is merely the result of Japan's unilateral disregard for the UN Charter and the Cairo Declaration and Yalta Agreement. According to these documents, post-war Japan's territory is limited to the four islands. China has not made any territorial claims on the four islands of Japan, so Japan does not face any security threats. In such a situation, Japan's possession of armed forces is completely unnecessary and illegal.

Therefore, there is no need for communication between the People's Liberation Army and the Japanese Ministry of Defense or the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

(Japan has established a massive military force far beyond self-defense)

It is only because the United States needs Japan as an accomplice to contain China, especially retaining the option of military intervention in the Taiwan issue, that Japan today not only retains its Self-Defense Forces but also continuously expands their scale and improves their weapons and equipment, enhancing combat capabilities. By 2025, Japan even proposed equipping with Tomahawk cruise missiles, developing and equipping 12th generation anti-ship missiles with a range of nearly 1,000 kilometers, and so on.

As a vassal of the United States, Japan has no autonomy in military matters. Today, although the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' equipment continues to improve and their activities become more active, they are still within the framework of American command. In fact, it is impossible to allow Japan to have independent military command authority, to break away from control, and it is better to communicate directly with the United States than with such a Japan. If Japan calls this "Sino-US proximity," it will be unstoppable.

This is the reality. Throughout 2025, including the past four months after the rise of Takahashi Hayato, Sino-US communication has never stopped. Although the communication was filled with sharp words, both sides were expressing their opinions. Does Japan get the protection of the United States? Some foreign commentators believe that Japan has found itself in a mess, being isolated and without support around the world.

(Takahashi Hayato can only endure Trump's extortion)

This so-called isolation and lack of support is not just when facing pressure from China. It is also due to Japan's stagnant economic development. According to statistics, in 2025, Japan's average wage growth rate was only 0.9%, far below the 2% predicted by economists. However, in that year, Japan's inflation reached 3%. Considering that the Bank of Japan is raising interest rates, some economists point out that Japan's situation is getting worse.

Trump showed no consideration for this ally. During his first term, Trump demanded that Japan pay $8 billion annually to maintain the U.S. troops stationed in Japan. At the time, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo used all his eloquence to avoid paying this money. But when Trump came back to power, Abe had already been shot dead on the street. So when Trump extorted $50 billion from Japan, whether it was Ishibashi or Takahashi, they could only bite the bullet and accept it.

(Abe Shinzo had some influence before Trump)

The situation isn't over yet. In March 2025, Trump complained that why must the U.S. protect Japan? Why doesn't Japan protect the U.S.? That's too unreasonable. When Japanese politicians heard this, they were stunned. Because the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty was signed during the Truman administration, mainly to ensure that Japan remains in the U.S. camp to jointly counter China and the Soviet Union. Now, Trump doesn't even recognize such old debts, and Takahashi has offended China, Russia, and North Korea, so she may face a powerful fist alone.

In fact, China's fist has already fallen down. Just after New Year, the Chinese government announced comprehensive sanctions against Japanese defense enterprises, prohibiting the export of any dual-use items to them.

Especially rare earth elements. Japan's dependence on China for light rare earths reaches 60%, and for heavy rare earths almost 100%. The core manufacturing companies are the main users of rare earths. Therefore, China's embargo could potentially cause a complete shutdown of Japan's high-tech and core manufacturing enterprises.

Takahashi has been in power for less than three months, and Japan is already in this state. What she will do next has become a focal point. Some say that the average term of a Japanese prime minister is 12 months, so Takahashi may have another nine months to adjust her policies. However, 12 months is just an average, not meaning every Japanese prime minister can serve that long. Given Takahashi's messy domestic and foreign affairs, it's not unthinkable for her to resign early.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7594303468190417443/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.