On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faced a fiery session in the Diet after her vague answers on the Taiwan region sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties. 🔥
During the debate, Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Hajime Hirota pressed Takaichi to clarify whether Taiwan region falls under “other countries with close ties to Japan” when defining a “survival-threatening situation.” Instead of a clear “yes” or “no,” Takaichi insisted that the category is “not specified in advance” and must be judged “on a case-by-case basis,” leaving many scratching their heads. 🤔
When Hirota demanded she retract her earlier remarks, opposition voices hollered that it was her “last chance.” Yet Takaichi stuck to her line: “There has been no change to the Japanese government’s basic position,” without spelling out what that position actually is.
The tension was so high that the session was briefly suspended, and the live broadcast was muted three times, according to local media. 📺🔇
This flare-up traces back to a Diet meeting on November 7, 2025, where Takaichi suggested that the Chinese mainland’s use of force on the Taiwan region could trigger a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. That comment drew immediate pushback both at home and abroad.
Since then, opposition parties have repeatedly called for more concrete explanations, but Takaichi has stuck to her vague script—keeping everyone guessing what Tokyo would actually do if cross-strait tensions escalate.
As we wrap up the year, watch for more debates over Japan’s security stance and its approach to the ever-sensitive Taiwan region. Stay tuned! 📣
Reference(s):
Takaichi criticized in Diet meeting over evasiveness on China's Taiwan
cgtn.com
