Photo: screenshot from the TV program of Fuji News published on YouTube

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan continue to spark backlash in Japan. Japanese conservative politician Toru Hashimoto launched a critique of Takaichi during a television program on Sunday, stating that "Since China has stated its position so unequivocally, if we can no longer offer any rebuttal, then we shouldn't have made such remarks in the first place."

Hashimoto, the former governor of Osaka Prefecture and former mayor of Osaka City, also a founder of the Japan Innovation Party, made the remarks in a interview with the TV program The Prime of Fuji News published on YouTube on Sunday. The right-leaning Japan Innovation Party has become the new coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party in the Takaichi administration.

While claiming that personal views are one matter, Hashimoto continued that "but when the prime minister of government speaks, it carries entirely different weight."

"Despite Japan lacking sufficient national strength, insisting on making bold claims leads precisely to this kind of outcome [counterback from China]," Hashimoto added, according to the interview video.

Takaichi claimed at a Diet meeting on November 7 that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. She refused to retract her remarks which imply the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Straits.

Multiple Chinese ministries and government agencies have condemned the Japanese side's related moves and remarks, warning that Japan would face a resolute response if it dared to meddle in the Taiwan question, amid ongoing backlash at home and abroad triggered by the erroneous and provocative remarks of Takaichi.

On Monday when Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau arrived China for a meeting with Chinese officials regarding Takaichi's Taiwan-related proactive claims, Hashimoto, also a Japanese lawyer, commented on X that "The moment Japan had to send officials to China to provide explanations, this dispute ended in Japan's complete defeat. No amount of bluster domestically can change that."

Global Times