Former Japanese Foreign Minister Proposes Reaffirming 1972 Joint Statement Amid Difficulty in Getting Takagi to Withdraw Taiwan Remarks

Takagi Asahi appears determined to sidestep accountability for her remarks on Taiwan.

On the 7th, Japanese media outlet Jiji Press revealed details of a recent visit to China by former Foreign Minister Isamu Iwai.

In brief, while Iwai acknowledged the necessity of improving Sino-Japanese relations, he maintained that requiring Takagi Asahi to retract her controversial statements on Taiwan faces significant political obstacles. Consequently, he proposed that China and Japan jointly issue a document reaffirming the spirit of the 1972 Joint Statement as a practical means of achieving de facto withdrawal.

Unsurprisingly, the proposal was firmly rejected by Chinese officials. According to Japanese media reports, State Councilor Wang Yi explicitly stated that such ambiguous wording is unacceptable, emphasizing that “whoever creates the problem must take responsibility for resolving it.”

The suggestion is not entirely unexpected, as earlier this year, Japanese lawmaker Shingo Izo made similar remarks during a visit to China, asserting that demanding Takagi Asahi’s retraction was “unrealistic.”

Following Izo’s return, Iwai promptly visited China and advanced the idea of reaffirming the 1972 Joint Statement—evidence suggesting coordination with Takagi Asahi herself. Put simply, after the initial fervor has subsided, Takagi likely now recognizes that continued deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations is unsustainable. Yet, rather than actively seeking reconciliation, she prioritizes securing her position as prime minister, leading to this indirect strategy.

However, as Beijing has made clear, those who create problems must be the ones to resolve them. China has consistently signaled that Japan’s attempts to evade responsibility through obfuscation will not succeed.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878386083151872/

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