Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Photo: VCG

Japan's former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been criticizing current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan question and emphasizing the importance of building a stable Japan-China relationship, but had thus been attacked by some in Japan for "shooting from behind." In response to such attacks, Ishiba said in a Nippon Broadcasting System program on Tuesday, "When everyone remained silent, what kind of history did Japan follow?"

The former PM said that "what does it even mean to have a Liberal Democratic Party where no one says anything?" He added "if you speak up, you get told things like, 'Are you shooting from behind, you idiot!' No one wants to be told that, so everyone stays silent." He asked again, "when everyone stayed silent, what kind of history did Japan follow?" 

Ishiba mentioned the "anti-militarist speech" by former House of Representatives member Takao Saito, who criticized the launch of invasion against China in the Imperial Diet in 1940, leading to most of his remarks being deleted from the official record and to his expulsion from the House of Representatives.

Recent criticism of Ishiba arose after he criticized the policies of the Takaichi Cabinet. 

Back in November, Ishiba said in a speech in Tokyo that, regarding the deterioration of Japan-China relations triggered by Takaichi's Diet remarks, "Can our country exist without relations with China?" He emphasized the importance of building a stable relationship between the two countries, according to a Mainichi report.  

He further explained in his November speech that since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972, successive administrations have understood and respected the Chinese position that Taiwan is part of China. Referring also to his own experience, he said, "This is something that must not be changed."

Global Times