Tokyo: Former Japanese prime ministers Shigeru Ishiba, Yoshihiko Noda and Yukio Hatoyama have openly criticized incumbent Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for remarks on Taiwan that they say have heightened tensions between Japan and China. The three leaders called on Takaichi to choose her words carefully and prioritize dialogue to repair bilateral ties.
Speaking on a television program on Sunday, Ishiba noted that since former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka’s historic 1972 visit to China, which paved the way for the normalization of diplomatic relations, Japanese administrations have handled the relationship with China with exceptional caution. He said the current government must fully understand this longstanding policy and remain prudent in its future actions.
Noda, during a media interaction in Tottori Prefecture the same day, said that today’s strains in Japan-China relations “stem from Prime Minister Takaichi’s rash remarks.” He stressed that Takaichi should offer an explanation to Beijing and work to improve ties through dialogue.
Hatoyama, in a post on X on Thursday, wrote that Takaichi’s comments had departed from Japan’s established position that “the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair,” pushing bilateral relations toward a potentially severe situation. He said the harm to Japan’s national interests was “immeasurable.” Quoting Confucius, Hatoyama added, “To make a mistake and not correct it — this is what is called truly making a mistake,” urging the prime minister to reverse course.
Takaichi sparked controversy at a Diet session on Nov. 7 when she suggested that any “use of force on Taiwan” by the Chinese mainland could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Legal experts, anti-war organizations and opposition parties have strongly criticized the statement.
Public opinion in Japan has also highlighted that her remarks run counter to commitments in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement and contradict Japan’s long-standing foreign policy toward China, warning that such comments risk provoking unnecessary regional tension.
