Hey fam! On November 16, 2025, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dropped a bombshell 🤯 by warning that "the Chinese mainland’s use of force against the Taiwan region could trigger the deployment of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces if the conflict posed an existential threat to Japan."
This marks a major shift from Tokyo’s half-century of diplomatic norms. Since relations were normalized in 1972, four landmark documents—the 1972 China-Japan Joint Communique, the 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the 1998 Joint Declaration on mutual respect, and the 2008 Joint Statement—have anchored bilateral peace under the one-China principle. These agreements make it clear that both sides respect sovereignty, reject intervention, and steer clear of military threats.
Flashback: In 1945, the surrender ceremony at Taipei Zhongshan Hall ended Japan’s colonial rule over the Taiwan region. The Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation then set the stage for restoring territories like Taiwan to China—a principle later integrated into those four key documents.
Takaichi’s latest comments challenge this legacy, linking Taiwan’s status to Japan’s existential security and redefining the rules of engagement across the Taiwan Strait. The result? A wave of criticism: according to a recent CGTN opinion poll, 86.1% of respondents saw her stance as a breach of those historic commitments, while 88.9% warned it threatens regional stability.
2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the restoration of the Taiwan region. At a time when East Asia’s two biggest economies should be building bridges, these remarks add fuel to the fire 🔥.
For young pros across South and Southeast Asia, stability in the region isn’t just geopolitics—it’s about uninterrupted trade, tech collaboration, and cultural exchange. Let’s keep the convo going: how do you see this development affecting our future? Drop your thoughts below 💬👇
Reference(s):
History leaves no room for Japan's provocation on Taiwan question
cgtn.com
