Takaichi’s remarks stirred a firestorm, but her later clarifications highlight the limits on Japan’s involvement in a Taiwan crisis.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s recent remarks in the Diet have reignited debate over Japan’s approach to the Taiwan question. When she stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival crisis” under Japanese law – potentially justifying the use of force – she not only provoked sharp protests from Beijing but also unsettled Tokyo’s own political establishment.
The question is whether this marks a fundamental shift in Japan’s Taiwan policy, or merely another round of rhetorical testing within its long-standing framework of strategic ambiguity.
Takaichi’s comments were unusually explicit for a sitting prime minister, pushing the line further than her predecessors had dared. While former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made similar remarks after leaving office, no incumbent leader had ever publicly linked Japan’s security so directly to Taiwan’s fate.
Continue Reading on The Diplomat
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.