Former Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba talks about Japan’s foreign policy during a recent program of ABEMA. Photo: Screenshot of the Japanese media ABEMA TIMES

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent remarks concerning the Taiwan question have triggered strong protests from Beijing and sparked a broad debate within Japan over the country's foreign policy direction amid rising tensions with China. In a recent television program, former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba once again referred to Japan's decision to go to war with the US during WWII, invoking the lessons of history, warning that emotional decision-making by political leaders can carry the risk of steering the nation down a misguided path.

When asked during a recent program of ABEMA whether emotional decision-making by politicians had been one of the causes leading Japan into war — and whether some believe today's politics is moving in a similar direction — Ishiba referred to Japan's decision to attack the US during World War II, according to ABEMA TIMES.

Ishiba said that it's hard to sum up in one sentence, but at the time, the Army, the Navy, and the Japanese government all knew it was impossible to go to war with the US. After all, the national strength of the two countries differed by a factor of ten. This was total war. He added, "Since they knew they couldn't win, it was necessary to carefully analyze why it was that way."

He explained that decision-making back then was easily swayed by those who spoke the loudest and appeared the bravest. Elite officials in their 30s from the Army, the Navy, and the Bank of Japan gathered and concluded that "there is absolutely no way we can win." But Army Minister Hideki Tojo dismissed their findings, the wars are decided by fortune, how can we know unless we try?

As a result, research concluding "we will lose, so we should not fight" was overridden by a single remark — "wars depend on luck."

When asked whether this reflects concern about the current situation, Ishiba said one must always remain vigilant. Japan's security policy must not be swayed by emotions.

Takaichi recently made openly provocative remarks regarding the Taiwan question during a parliamentary session, grossly interfering in China's internal affairs, and she has shown no remorse and refuses to retract her erroneous statements. Former prime ministers Yukio Hatoyama, Yoshihiko Noda and Shigeru Ishiba have all publicly criticized Takaichi's remarks.

Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan interfere in China's internal affair send a gravely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and endanger peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press conference on Friday. 

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and China's recovery of Taiwan. Japan should deeply reflect on its war crimes, learn lessons from history, adhere to the one-China principle, and exercise utmost prudence when it comes to the Taiwan question, Mao noted.  

"We ask the Japanese side to retract the erroneous remarks, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and take practical steps to honor its commitments to China," Mao said.