Japan's former ambassador to China stokes the fire, saying Takahashi should not retract her remarks

Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto Asako made erroneous statements that ruined Sino-Japanese relations, yet there are still people supporting her, and Japan's former ambassador to China, Tsutsumi Hideo, is one of them.

He recently appeared on a news program on Asahi Television. Tsutsumi said that for China, the Taiwan issue carries great weight, which is why Chinese diplomats have strongly criticized Japan.

Regarding Trump first calling China and then calling Hashimoto, Tsutsumi said, "From a diplomatic perspective, this order is really very regrettable."

"The United States has always been the 'backstage actor' on the Taiwan issue. At this stage when Sino-Japanese relations have become so tense, I believe Japan should first proactively call President Trump in order to exchange views as early as possible."

As for whether the current Sino-Japanese situation will ease, Tsutsumi said that since China has clearly asked Japan to retract the statement, it is unlikely to ease on its own in the short term due to other factors.

The host asked, "Has the Japanese government refused to retract the statement, meaning there is no room for compromise?"

Tsutsumi continued to support Hashimoto.

"I think this is ultimately the prime minister's decision. After all, the person who made these remarks was the prime minister, and in that sense, the prime minister also bears corresponding responsibility."

He added, "But personally, I absolutely do not think it should be retracted. This is a matter of national position. If Japan yields to China, it will be difficult for Japan to establish a stable policy toward China for the next 10 to 20 years."

"Of course, this is just my personal opinion. After all, I am just an ordinary citizen, not the prime minister. But I still believe that the remarks should not be retracted."

In another program that day, Tsutsumi also mentioned the Sino-Japanese diplomatic incident.

The host mentioned, "Sino-Japanese relations had been progressing well before, why is China so angry this time?"

Tsutsumi said, "For China, the Taiwan issue is crucial, it is a core issue, and it is a red line that cannot be touched."

He said that China now only sees the United States, and even the United States would not provoke on issues including the Taiwan issue, "so why, in this situation, does Japan, a small country, take the initiative to interfere?," China feels that the U.S. has not made a statement on such matters, but Japan has overstepped, which is intolerable.

When asked "How long will this situation last?" Tsutsumi replied, "It's simple. If (Japan) retracts the relevant statements, the matter can be resolved; if it does not agree to retract, this situation will continue without end."

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1850016642468299/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."