Former Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba Photo: Screenshot from tv-asahi.co.jp

In response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on the Taiwan question, former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Sunday that diplomacy is not about loudly saying whatever one wants. 

Regarding Takaichi’s remarks on the Taiwan question, Ishiba commented during an internet program of ABEMA news show that “Japan-China relations are so delicate, and the fundamental issue is the stance the Japanese government has taken up to now. I hope the current administration will proceed with a clear and thorough understanding of that.”

Regarding China-Japan relations, Ishiba noted that in 1972, Showa 47, then Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka visited Beijing and managed to restore diplomatic relations between Japan and China. “Since then, successive governments have managed Japan-China relations very carefully. There are times when they want to speak their mind or feel emotionally charged, but everyone has handled things with truly meticulous care,” Ishiba said. 

In addition, Ishiba warned that diplomacy is not about saying something one wants to say. It’s not something that should be done just to boost approval ratings, either, he noted. 

Ishiba had previously criticized Takaichi’s erroneous remarks regarding the Taiwan question. During a radio program on November 13, regarding Takaichi’s statement in the Diet meeting that if China were to impose a maritime blockade on island of Taiwan, it could constitute “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan in which the Self-Defense Forces might exercise collective self-defense rights, Ishiba said that “past administrations have avoided the government definitively stating ‘this is what we would do in this case’ on the Taiwan issue.”

In response to Takaichi’s remarks on the Taiwan question and her refusal to retract them, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that those remarks have caused fundamental damage to the political foundation of China-Japan relations. The egregiousness of both the nature and impact of those remarks has triggered strong outrage and condemnation from the Chinese people. 

China seriously urges Japan to retract Sanae Takaichi’s wrongful remarks, stop making provocations on issues concerning China, take practical steps to admit and correct the wrongdoing, and uphold the political foundation of China-Japan relations, Mao said. 
If Japan refuses to retract them or even continue to pursue the wrong course, China will have to take strong and resolute countermeasures and all consequences arising therefrom will be borne by Japan, according to Mao. 

Global Times