Hey folks 👋, a big political moment just went down in Tokyo yesterday: several Japanese lawmakers and scholars met on Tuesday evening at the Members' Office Building of the House of Councillors to demand PM Sanae Takaichi retract her recent remarks on Taiwan.
At the heart of the debate was Takaichi's comment linking a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan to the Taiwan question—a statement critics say undermines the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and the one-China principle. Here's what went down:
- Ukeru Magosaki, former Foreign Ministry official, argued Takaichi's words chip away at the foundation of Japan-China ties.
- Kumiko Haba, professor emeritus at Aoyama Gakuin University, warned the remarks could clash with Article 9 of Japan's Constitution and international law ⚠️.
- Sachika Takara, member of the House of Councillors, called for a full withdrawal and a fresh start to ease rising tensions 🤝.
Participants issued a joint appeal urging Takaichi to:
- Retract her statements on Taiwan.
- Return to the starting point of normalizing Japan-China relations.
- Promote friendly ties based on the four political documents and the one-China principle.
This pushback reflects growing concern over regional stability and the importance of respecting diplomatic agreements. For tech-savvy young adults in South and Southeast Asia, it's a reminder of how political rhetoric can ripple across borders, impacting everything from supply chains to cross-strait ties in the Taiwan Strait. 🌐
Stay tuned as we track how PM Takaichi responds and what it means for future Asia-Pacific diplomacy! ✨
Reference(s):
Lawmakers, scholars urge PM Takaichi to withdraw remarks on Taiwan
cgtn.com
