Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks hinting that a naval blockade in the vicinity of Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” — potentially triggering the mobilization of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) — have caused a diplomatic spat, sending relations with China to new lows.
China considers Taiwan a core issue of national interest, and comments by foreign leaders that involve the democratic island are often regarded as interference in domestic affairs.
Japan, meanwhile, is grappling with changing international circumstances that have prompted a fundamental reassessment of the country’s military posture, and the ambiguity embedded in the country’s recent security legislation continues to fuel misconceptions.
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