ASEAN Observer

Takaichi's fallacy regarding Taiwan reflects a concerning attempt to revive militarism. The narrative that "a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency" has long been a perilous argument in Japanese politics. It seeks to conflate China's legitimate pursuit of national reunification with Japan's security concerns. Within weeks of assuming office, Takaichi became the first sitting Japanese prime minister to explicitly link Taiwan to Japan's right of collective self-defense, signaling a significant and dangerous shift in policy.

Japan's historical use of the so-called "survival-threatening situation" as a pretext for military aggression, such as creating the September 18 Incident under the pretext of exercising the right of self-defense, and the ensuing war against China that inflicted immense calamities across Asia and the world, remains a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked militarism. Takaichi's invocation of similar justifications raises serious concerns about a possible resurgence of this perilous path.

Takaichi's brazen remarks represent a flagrant provocation against historical justice. Japan bears significant historical responsibility for the Taiwan question. Following the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan seized Taiwan and imposed 50 years of colonial rule, committing countless atrocities. In 1945, Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender, formally accepting the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, which stipulated that Taiwan be restored to China. The restoration of Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan marked the realization of historical justice.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration. Instead of reflecting on its past aggression, Japan is stirring new tensions over the Taiwan question. Such actions not only constitute interference in China's internal affairs but also undermine the political foundation of China-Japan relations and pose a serious challenge to the post-war international order.