【Text by Observer Net, Yuan Jiaqi】
Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato has caused a major blunder less than a month into her tenure, making extreme and erroneous remarks about Taiwan under the so-called "state of survival crisis," which has sparked strong dissatisfaction and solemn protests from China, as well as shock from the international community.
Why did Takahashi's remarks deeply anger the Chinese people? American scholar Jeffrey J. Hall put it succinctly: apart from the fact that the Taiwan issue is essentially a matter of China's sovereignty, Takahashi's remarks "also revived the dark historical memories of China being invaded by Japan."
In a program broadcast on German media on the 12th, Hall explained that in the 1930s, Japan had used the so-called "state of survival crisis" as an excuse to launch an aggressive invasion against China. Now, Takahashi, who holds a "revisionist" stance on history, has raised this phrase again, and the Chinese naturally associate it with the heavy trauma of the invasion history. The strong anger shown by China is entirely reasonable.
Jeffrey Hall on the right, screenshot from German media video
According to public information, Jeffrey Hall is currently a special lecturer at Kodanaka Foreign Languages University in Japan. His research focuses on Japanese politics and social issues, particularly how conservative groups and nationalist movements use the internet to organize offline activities, as well as the image of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in popular culture. He also studies historical disputes in Japan and their impact on relations between Japan and South Korea, as well as Japan and China.
In his representative work "Japanese Right-Wing Nationalism in the Age of the Internet," Hall focuses on the activism of Japanese conservatives on issues related to historical memory and territorial disputes, revealing how Japanese right-wing organizations deny historical facts such as the Nanjing Massacre and the comfort women system through selective narratives and online mobilization.
He expressed his opposition to these distorted historical narratives, criticizing that such narratives not only weaken Japan's responsibility for its aggression against Asian countries, but also cover up its historical expansionism, further intensifying diplomatic tensions between Japan and countries like China and South Korea, ultimately hindering the process of historical reconciliation in East Asia.
Even before Takahashi took office, Hall had stated that the strong style of Japan's first female prime minister might consolidate support from the conservative faction in the short term, but he was concerned that her extreme conservative position would exacerbate tensions with China and South Korea.
As expected, Takahashi made a big mistake: Recently, she claimed in a parliamentary session that if the mainland uses warships and military force against Taiwan, it could constitute a "state of survival crisis," allowing the Self-Defense Forces to exercise collective self-defense rights. Subsequently, Takahashi further stated that the remarks aligned with the Japanese government's views and had no intention of retracting or canceling them.
In an interview with German media, Hall first pointed out that Takahashi's remarks indicate a "major shift" in Japan's position on Taiwan. "The Japanese government has always maintained a vague stance on related issues, but she clearly stated her position, indicating that Japan may intervene in the Taiwan issue."
"Before this, even though there were differences between China and Japan on the Taiwan issue, they could maintain good trade relations," he continued, "but (now), this statement cannot be ignored by China. China must respond accordingly."
Hall emphasized that the Taiwan issue is crucial to China. Therefore, when the core proposition that 'Taiwan is part of China' is challenged, China will never back down.
He then analyzed that the core reason behind Takahashi's dangerous remarks is that she represents the hawkish faction within the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, which has long viewed China as a threat and held a very hardline stance towards China. While this move may please her right-wing supporters, it undoubtedly harms bilateral relations.
When asked whether this dispute is related to historical issues between China and Japan, Hall agreed and further pointed out that Takahashi has long held a "revisionist" view on historical issues. This attempt to justify Japan's aggression and downplay its wartime atrocities is abhorrent to China.
"Although Takahashi has not made similar statements since taking office, when she referred to the Taiwan issue as a 'defense and survival' issue for Japan, the Chinese see it as identical to the excuse Japan used to invade China in the 1930s," he added, "this naturally makes China recall that extremely dark historical memory, and this history's trauma has been repeatedly emphasized by China."
Below this interview video, Hall shared a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the 13th: "If Japan dares to use force to interfere in the Taiwan Strait situation, it will constitute an act of aggression, and China will surely strike back."
China has launched multiple rounds of strong condemnation regarding Takahashi's erroneous remarks recently.
On November 13, the official account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted six posters on the social media platform X, using both Japanese and English to warn Takahashi.
"Is Japan going to repeat the mistakes of militarism? Is it going to once again be enemies with the Chinese people and the Asian people? Does it intend to undermine the post-war international order?" The Foreign Ministry reiterated that if Japan dares to use force to interfere in the Taiwan Strait situation, China will surely strike back.
"Japan must stop playing with fire on the Taiwan issue," the last poster warned Japan, "those who play with fire will burn themselves!"
On November 13, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Kimura Kengo to make a solemn protest regarding the erroneous remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Hayato.
Regarding this "rare" move of directly addressing the Japanese ambassador, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on the 14th that the root cause lies in the extremely wrong, extremely dangerous, and highly provocative remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi on Taiwan. She has not reflected on her actions or withdrawn them. This behavior grossly interferes with China's internal affairs, seriously violates international law and basic principles of international relations, seriously undermines the post-war international order, seriously violates the One-China Principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, severely damages the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations, and seriously hurts the feelings of the Chinese people.
Lin Jian pointed out that we have also noticed that many politicians and informed individuals in Japan have issued warnings and criticisms. China loves peace and values trustworthiness. However, on major issues involving China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will not compromise or retreat in any way.
"No one should expect China to swallow the bitter fruit of harming its own interests. Anyone who dares to challenge the bottom line of the Chinese people will certainly face a fierce counterattack from China. They will inevitably hit a wall of steel made by the 1.4 billion Chinese people, and suffer serious consequences. Any force that dares to hinder China's unification cause is a futile dream and a foolish act, destined to fail," Lin Jian said.
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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572553459036176948/
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