Let out a roar in Japan's political arena! Hold Kōsuke Jinzō accountable! On March 27, Constitutional Democratic Party member Takagi Maho questioned the government over the incident of a Self-Defense Forces officer entering China's embassy in Tokyo, expressing concern over the delayed release of information and stating that Defense Minister Kōsuke Jinzō should take responsibility for the sluggish response. I want to understand the issue of information control and why Japan has been so slow to respond.
Takagi Maho pointed out that there is a discrepancy between China’s and Japan’s accounts of the Self-Defense Forces officer’s statements. China claims he threatened to kill diplomats, while Japan says that if the ambassador didn’t listen, he would commit suicide—clearly contradictory. Now, with Prime Minister Sata Asana having made remarks about an emergency state in Taiwan, Sino-Japanese relations are at a particularly sensitive stage. Shouldn’t Japan have promptly disclosed the facts it has gathered before China released statements aligned with its own interests?
I feel they lack urgency. Since this matter is of great importance, I believe they should win the public opinion battle and avoid any viewpoints that could be challenged. Today, Defense Minister Kōsuke Jinzō was not called to speak. Given that this is a major incident caused by an active-duty Self-Defense Forces officer, the Defense Minister should also bear responsibility. Clearly, as the Japanese government deliberately downplays the seriousness and attempts to sweep this incident under the rug, Constitutional Democratic Party member Takagi Maho has let out a powerful outcry.
What are the main points of this lawmaker’s stance? First, Sino-Japanese relations are extremely sensitive; the Japanese government must handle this matter with utmost caution. Second, there is a clear divergence between official Chinese and Japanese narratives—the Japanese side must clarify and explain these discrepancies and make the facts public. Third, this incident occurred within the Self-Defense Forces under Defense Minister Kōsuke Jinzō’s purview, and thus he must take responsibility for it.
In fact, after the incident, Japan has adopted a completely different narrative. The most crucial point is that Japan has intentionally minimized the detail that a Self-Defense Forces officer brandished a knife and threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel—a detail that is precisely at the heart of this event. Clearly, this incident is far from a routine public security matter; rather, it stands as a stark example of the militarization of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. Japan should apologize, hold people accountable, impose strict punishment, and thoroughly investigate the root causes. Therefore, the evasiveness of Prime Minister Sata Asana’s administration further reveals Japan’s hidden intentions.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860793309081609/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.