Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seemed to be backing down from her hard-line stance as she informed the parliament on Wednesday that the Japanese government’s position about Taiwan remained aligned with the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique.
Some interpreted her statements as a retreat from previous tough talk, others suggested that greater clarification is still required from Tokyo.
Last month, Takaichi suggested that a military move by China against Taiwan could create a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan—a term that would potentially justify military involvement alongside allied nations. The comment prompted a diplomatic row, with Beijing imposing economic and diplomatic pressure on Tokyo.
Since Takaichi’s initial remarks, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has repeatedly stated Japan’s approach has not shifted from the established 1972 framework—a position that Chinese officials have deemed insufficient.
The 1972 joint statement, which normalized bilateral ties, records Japan as “fully understanding and respecting” China’s claim over Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accused Japan of “dodging the issue” and called on Tokyo to “retract the erroneous remarks,” insisting the Japanese government “learn the lessons of history” and “do soul-searching.”
Takaichi, however, has stood firm, repeatedly declining to comply with Beijing’s demands to walk back her remarks and reiterating Japan’s approach to any potential security crisis remains consistent.
