Reference News Network, November 17 report: Japan's "Shakai Shimbun" published an editorial on November 14 with the title "The Existence of Prime Minister Takahashi Is the Crisis of Japan." Excerpts are as follows:

"Takahashi politics" has started. After the policy speech in late October, Takahashi Sanae, the prime minister, gradually clarified her governing goals starting from the budget committee meetings in early November. It is evident that she ignores people's lives, follows the United States closely, and tries to fully strengthen military expansion.

Based on Takahashi's previous behavior and the policy proposals she put forward during the Liberal Democratic Party president election, it can be said that her political goals have been exposed. Given that the Liberal Democratic Party cannot obtain a majority of seats in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors independently, it must deal with the imminent crisis through a coalition government between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Restoration Party. She should have chosen to hide her sharpness and listen to the opinions of the opposition parties. However, it is obvious that Takahashi chose to highlight her conservative position to consolidate her base among the hardline conservatives rather than prioritize political stability.

On November 7, during the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting, Takahashi stated in her response that "the situation in Taiwan" falls under the "crisis of survival" that allows Japan to exercise collective self-defense rights. She also bluntly said, "If warships are used and force is exercised, it can certainly constitute a crisis of survival."

Certainly, part of the security-related laws passed in 2015 partially lifted the restrictions on collective self-defense rights, allowing the Self-Defense Forces to use force even if Japan was not directly attacked. Although the opposition parties and the general public strongly criticized this law for violating the constitution, it still passed, which is regrettable.

However, even citing the security law does not mean that collective self-defense rights can be used unconditionally. The law clearly states that collective self-defense rights can only be cautiously exercised when Japan's survival is threatened, and there is an explicit danger of fundamental subversion of the people's lives and rights, and "there is no other appropriate means."

Actively using the Self-Defense Forces seems to be Takahashi's consistent position, but as the current prime minister, discussing this matter so casually is still bound to be criticized as reckless. The Japanese governments in the past have always adhered to the position of "comprehensively assessing each case" regarding the "Taiwan issue," avoiding direct association. However, when questioned at the budget committee meeting, Takahashi only said that she would be "more cautious" in the future.

Her policy speech also abounded with hawkish policies, including but not limited to completing the increased defense spending target ahead of schedule, establishing a "National Intelligence Agency," enacting an anti-spy law, and relaxing weapons export regulations. This can only be seen as deliberately escalating tensions. The existence of Prime Minister Takahashi itself may become a crisis of survival for Japan. (Translated by Liu Lin)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7573526460221096467/

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