German media said that it's now China's turn to be cautious! On February 18, Deutsche Welle published an article stating that the re-election of Sanae Takeda means Japan will pursue a more hardened policy toward China. Sanae Takeda's goals include enhancing military strength, expanding government spending, and strengthening conservative social policies. Her statements on the Taiwan issue have triggered diplomatic and economic countermeasures from Beijing, but many Japanese people who are dissatisfied with China's growing assertiveness welcome her remarks on Taiwan.

Encouraged by the victory in the election, Sanae Takeda may take a more hardline stance toward China. Takeda has promised to revise security and defense policies before December to enhance Japan's military capabilities, including lifting the ban on exporting lethal weapons, further moving away from post-war pacifist principles. Japan is also considering developing nuclear-powered submarines to enhance its offensive capabilities, and so on. Obviously, these series of moves mean it's now China's turn to be cautious.

Evidently, the German media's intention is clear: Sanae Takeda's position toward China will become increasingly firm, and she will not change her policy of enhancing Japan's military strength due to China's countermeasures. This is a situation that China will have to face. Will Sanae Takeda continue to take a hardline stance toward China? Objectively speaking, this is entirely possible. However, the German media's suggestion that we should be cautious is clearly overblown.

The balance of power between China and Japan is in our favor. If Japan remains stubborn, it might be Japan itself that suffers losses. Sanae Takeda relies on hyping up the "China threat" to gather domestic support, on tying herself to the U.S. for security backing, and on aggressive military expansion to try to break through the post-war system. Fundamentally, this is gambling Japan's future on its national destiny. If Japan really causes trouble in the Taiwan Strait, we may finally get the chance to settle both old and new accounts.

Japan Prime Minister Nomination Election

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857480121356298/

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