Seminar attendees call Japan PM’s remarks on China’s Taiwan irresponsible, dangerous for peace

A public seminar held in Nagoya on Saturday gathered scholars and citizens critical of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on China’s Taiwan region, calling them irresponsible and dangerous for regional stability.

At a Diet meeting in early November 2025, Takaichi claimed that the Chinese mainland’s “use of force on Taiwan” could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait, drawing strong criticism nationwide.

Seminar participants said that Takaichi’s wrongful remarks on Taiwan are leading Japan toward war, calling such thinking extremely dangerous.

“This is not just about the so-called ‘Taiwan emergency’. Her words imply war. How can she not understand that? It’s beyond belief,” said one attendee.

Members of civil society and experts on China-Japan relations were especially alarmed about the geopolitical implications of Takaichi’s stance.

“This is the first time since World War II that Japan has hinted at the possibility of war with China. It’s a very serious matter, which sparks vigilance from China naturally and heightens tensions across East Asia. Takaichi must be held accountable for the consequence,” said Noriyuki Kawamura, president of the Tokai Japan-China Relations Society.

Participants also criticized Takaichi’s abrupt decision to dissolve the Japanese House of Representatives, branding it another rash move amid political instability.

Takaichi on Monday announced her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23, and her cabinet formally adopted the decision on Friday. Official campaigning for the snap general election is set to begin on January 27, with voting scheduled for February 8.

“What Japan truly needs is stability, both political and economic. Only through stability can we achieve economic development and social progress,” said one participant.

“Japan’s domestic situation is already dire. No matter who is in power, the government should focus on doing the basics right at home first,” said another attendee.

Russia said on Saturday that it carried out a large-scale strike against Ukraine early Saturday morning and controlled another settlement in the Kharkov Region over the past day, while Ukraine said it repelled Russian attacks in multiple directions.

Russian long-range precision missiles and attack drones hit a Ukrainian plant manufacturing drones and energy facilities servicing Ukraine’s military-industrial complex during the past 24 hours, and Russia’s operational-tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery units struck 157 targets, including long-range drone storage sites and operator training facilities, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries, the Russian Defense Ministry said. It added that air defense systems shot down 137 fixed-wing drones.

Russian forces controlled the town of Staritsa in Kharkov Region over the past day, the ministry said.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Saturday reported 136 combat engagements on the frontline, where Ukrainian troops repelled Russian offensives in multiple directions.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russian forces implemented a large-scale air strike against Ukraine from Friday evening to early Saturday morning.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the large-scale strike caused damage to critical infrastructures in the city.