December 8, 2025

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

As Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remark in the Diet that a “Taiwan contingency” would threaten Japan’s survival became a major issue, Japan on December 8 marked 84 years since it conducted surprise attacks against the U.S. and the U.K. on December 8, 1941, expanding its war of aggression to the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan, during the pre-WWII period since the Meiji Era (1868-1912), fought numerous wars. However, not a single one of these wars was fought against a military invasion by foreign countries. Japan waged all of these wars with the aim of expanding its territory and interests. Nevertheless, Japan justified them as wars of “lifeline and survival crisis” or wars of “self-defense”. This is a historical fact.

PM Takaichi’s “Taiwan” remark deviated from the government’s conventional stance. She, by her remark, announced the possibility of Japan entering a war against China.

Japan, following its acceptance of the 1945 Potsdam Declaration, ended its colonial rule and returned Taiwan to China. In the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique, Japan expressed that it “fully understands and respects” the Chinese government’s claim that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China.”

At the same time, PM Takaichi’s remark underscored the danger of the national security-related legislation which stipulates a military response to a “survival-threatening situation”.

Under the law, a “survival-threatening situation” refers to a scenario in which “an armed attack against a foreign country that has a close relationship with Japan occurs, and as a result, threatens Japan’s survival and poses a clear danger of fundamentally overturning people’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. The law enables Japan to join in a war by giving the impression that it is for “self-defense”. It is unacceptable for the government to inflame a public sense of crisis under the guise of “self-defense”. Such a move is reminiscent of propaganda tactics used in prewar Japan.

In the event of a Taiwan contingency, Japan would be drawn into a U.S.-led war under the Japan-U.S. military alliance and the aggressively worded national security-related legislation when ostensibly facing a threat to national security. This fact should be well understood by the general public.

Past related article:
> Yamazoe urges PM Takaichi to retract her remark on potential ‘Taiwan contingency’ as a national security issue for Japan in order to prevent escalation of situation [November 15, 2025]