On Friday evening (November 28), in Tokyo, hundreds of citizens took to the streets again, demanding that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retract her controversial remarks on Taiwan 🙅♀️🇹🇼. This follows previous rallies on November 21 and 25, showing that public frustration is still going strong.
Protesters gathered outside the prime minister's official residence, holding signs like "Takaichi resign" and "Never forget history, never repeat the same mistakes". Many voiced concern that Takaichi's comments have cooled ties between Japan and the Chinese mainland, raising fears of regional tension.
Tomoko, one of the protesters, said, "Our ties with the Chinese mainland have already cooled. Takaichi's words only make things worse." Meanwhile, Ryo displayed a cartoon of Takaichi shaking hands with a "specter of militarism" 🕊⚔️, warning of a drift towards a more militaristic Japan.
At a Diet meeting on November 7, Takaichi warned that the Chinese mainland's potential use of force in the Taiwan Strait could pose a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, even hinting at possible armed intervention. Her remarks sparked immediate backlash, but she has remained unapologetic, defending her stance during a party leaders' debate.
Major dailies have criticized her response: Mainichi Shimbun called her debate defense an "abdication of responsibility," while Asahi Shimbun noted "no sign of reflection."
With public pressure mounting, all eyes are on whether Takaichi will listen to calls for retraction or double down. Stay tuned as this story develops 📰✨.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
