Japanese Protesters Call for PM Takaichi’s Resignation
Demonstrators accuse Takaichi of provoking diplomatic tensions after her Taiwan-related comments
China, Nov 17 : Japanese residents staged a protest outside the Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo on Saturday evening, calling for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s resignation following her controversial comments on a potential Taiwan crisis.
Around 100 demonstrators gathered with banners, chanting slogans such as “Takaichi step down” and “Those who cannot conduct diplomacy are unfit to be prime minister.” The protesters accused the prime minister of fuelling unnecessary diplomatic tensions through her recent statements.
At a Diet meeting on November 7, Takaichi suggested that a Taiwan emergency involving the use of military vessels or force from the Chinese mainland could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Under Japanese law, such a classification could allow the Self-Defense Forces to exercise the right of collective self-defense.
Despite criticism, Takaichi has defended her comments, insisting they align with the government’s established stance and stressing that she has no intention of retracting them.
Meanwhile, China lodged a strong diplomatic protest. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao met with Japan’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi on Friday, delivering a formal complaint and expressing Beijing’s firm opposition to Takaichi’s “erroneous” remarks regarding China.
