Heads up, Asia-Pacific! Japan's defense makeover is stirring up memories no one wants a rerun of. Here's the scoop on what's happening, why folks are worried, and what's next 🕊️⚠️
At a Diet session on November 7, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that the Chinese mainland's 'use of force on Taiwan' could become a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan, even hinting at armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. Her remarks landed like a bombshell.
Why the alarm? Historically, pre-1945 Japan launched expansionist wars across Asia under the banner of national survival, causing untold suffering. Now, since stepping into office earlier this year, Takaichi has:
- Pushed for record-high defense spending 🪖
- Eased arms-export restrictions to boost Japan's weapons sales
- Signaled openness to revisiting its non-nuclear principles 💥
Adding fuel to the fire, reports say she may visit Yasukuni Shrine on December 26, a site that divides opinion over its war-linked history.
At home, Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito warned that her comments shake Japan's traditional security stance. Protests rocked Tokyo this week, with placards reading 'Do not drag the people into war!'
Overseas reactions poured in, too. Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu accused Takaichi of historical revisionism, while experts like Yuriy Pikalov say Japan has long eyed constitutional tweaks to bolster its military. South Korea's Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik also warned that changing Japan's 'peace constitution' undermines regional stability.
Analysts stress a rightward shift in Tokyo's political climate, chipping away at postwar pacifism. Su Xiaohui of the China Institute of International Studies points to this conservative push, and Tsinghua's Liu Jiangyong cautions that Japan faces a critical choice: peaceful development or a return to a 19th-century mindset focused on military might.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of WWII's end, a stark reminder of the cost of conflict. With Japan at a crossroads, the region is watching closely: will it stay on a path of peace or drift back toward its militarist past? 🌏🕊️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
