By Kwon Ki-sik
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently remarked that a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation," implying Japan's possible military involvement in the Taiwan question. Such erroneous remarks not only damage China-Japan relations but also destabilize the situation in Northeast Asia, and they rightly deserve strong condemnation.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Under international law, the one-China principle has long been established. Takaichi's words and actions not only undermine the one-China principle and interfere in China's internal affairs but also violate the fundamental norms of international law and international relations. Japan covets a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, yet it disregards UN General Assembly resolutions and international law. A country that cannot fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security naturally has no qualification to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Not long ago, during the APEC meeting in Gyeongju, Sanae Takaichi stated that Japan would adhere to the position on the Taiwan question outlined in the 1972 China-Japan Joint Statement. However, after returning to Japan, she made erroneous remarks that seriously undermined diplomatic credibility and once again placed the Asia-Pacific region at significant risk. Takaichi's actions may reflect domestic political calculations, seeking to bolster support from Japan's right-wing by provoking external tensions. However, such political provocations, undertaken at the expense of the country's long-term interests and regional stability, only create unnecessary conflicts and constitute a serious misjudgment.
In recent years, Japan's right-wing forces, including Sanae Takaichi, have repeatedly stirred up China-related issues and engaged in provocative actions. Behind these moves lies both a misreading of China's development and a sense of frustration stemming from Japan's long-term economic stagnation. To this day, Japan has yet to fully reflect on the crimes committed by its militarist regime during its wars of aggression in Southeast Asian countries including China, and at times continues to distort, deny, or glorify that history. Japan's right-wing forces are attempting to retrace the path of militarism, and this dangerous tendency poses a persistent threat to regional peace.
A resurgence of militarism is a perilous delusion that would also bring disaster to Japan's own future. Such thinking could once again push young people onto the battlefield and subject innocent civilians to the ravages of war, becoming the primary force undermining the peaceful life of the Japanese people, so it must be firmly restrained. Japan's improper approach to historical education is a fundamental source of the problem. If the younger generation fails to understand and reflect on historical responsibilities, it will be an extremely unfortunate situation for Japan's future.
Japan bears historical responsibility for the Taiwan question and should approach related issues with reflection and contrition. Yet Japanese leaders have made statements and taken actions that deviate from both legal and moral obligations in the face of historical justice. The international community, particularly countries that once jointly resisted Japanese militarism, must remain highly vigilant, clearly oppose any attempts by Japan to deny history or challenge peace, and resolutely safeguard the hard-won peace and stability of the region.
(The author is the President of the Korea-China City Friendship Association.)