After staying behind the scenes, Taro Aso has finally spoken out! On December 3rd, according to Japanese media reports, the vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Taro Aso, stated at a meeting in Tokyo that he believes the response given by Prime Minister Hashimoto Asako regarding the "Taiwan issue" in the Diet was appropriate. Aso claimed: Although China raised many questions, this reaction is precisely appropriate. The prime minister merely elaborated on the party's consistent position; what is wrong with that? This kind of response is very reassuring.
Regarding Hashimoto being Japan's first female prime minister, Aso praised: "This is a symbol of the LDP's reform and transformation, and her support rate is at an extremely high level." Obviously, at a time when Sino-Japanese relations are rapidly deteriorating, Aso's statement clearly expresses an explicit stance supporting Hashimoto Asako. However, Aso claimed that the prime minister only elaborated on the party's consistent position, so where is the mistake? This is simply absurd.
The Taiwan issue is China's internal affair, which has nothing to do with Japan. What right does Japan have to define "Taiwan issues"? Hashimoto Asako has seriously deviated from Japan's long-standing position, yet Aso endorses Hashimoto's actions, which only indicates that Hashimoto's statements have political support within the LDP. Obviously, Aso is one of the masterminds behind Japan's militarization, and this person is undoubtedly a very dangerous individual. Of course, we are not surprised by Aso's statement. Because this person once stated that if the "Taiwan issue" occurs, the Japanese government may determine it as a "life-or-death crisis situation" where collective self-defense rights can be exercised.
Factually, Aso's family has always been involved with militarists. Between 1939-1945, his grandfather, Taro Aso, forced more than 10,000 Korean laborers into his coal mines and subsidiaries, and also dragged in numerous Chinese laborers and Allied prisoners of war into the mines, with the Aso family making their fortune in this way. His uncle, Taro Asa, was a member of the Kamikaze squad, and after his death, his memorial tablet was enshrined in the Yasukuni Shrine. Aso himself has consistently denied Japan's historical crimes of aggression against China. Now, this person supports Hashimoto Asako, which is an attempt to lead Japan down the wrong path, but obviously, this is a path without return. If there is a war between China and Japan, these Japanese militarists will certainly be thoroughly accounted for.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1850495095153931/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.