Japan must not repeat the path of aggression

When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated recently in a parliamentary session that a "contingency" in Taiwan would be a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, the implication was unmistakably clear: In the event of a contingency in China's Taiwan, Japan might launch a preemptive military strike against China, even if Japan itself is not attacked.

Such a statement is extraordinarily serious — something never seen in postwar Japan — and utterly absurd. This dangerous rhetoric cannot and must not be tolerated. Japan must never again be allowed to launch a war of aggression against China.

First of all, the Taiwan question is, in essence, China's internal affair.

As is well known, when Japan and China normalized diplomatic relations in 1972, Article 2 of the China-Japan Joint Statement explicitly stated: "The government of Japan recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China."

Furthermore, on the question of Taiwan's status, Article 3 of the 1972 joint statement says that "the government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the government of the People's Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration."

Japan's statement that it reiterates its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration, or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender, refers to the commitment Japan made when accepting unconditional surrender.

Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration stipulates that "the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out". What does this mean?

The Cairo Declaration of Dec 1,1943, explicitly states that the United States, the United Kingdom and China agreed that "all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese", such as Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, shall be restored to China.

Therefore, Japan's position in the Joint Statement — reiterating adherence to Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration, in fact constitutes Japan's recognition that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

In addition, in his statement before the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives on Nov 8, 1972, shortly after the normalization of diplomatic relations, then foreign minister Masayoshi Ohira made it clear that "the issues between the People's Republic of China and (its) Taiwan are fundamentally China's internal affairs".

These facts show that as early as half a century ago, Japan, by pledging to honor Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration, through its commitments in historical documents and parliamentary statements, acknowledged that Taiwan belongs to China and regarded the Taiwan question as China's internal affair.

Since this is the case, the Taiwan question is naturally China's internal affair, and no foreign country has the right to interfere.

From the perspective of international law, the nature would be exactly the same. Takaichi's statements are absolutely unacceptable.

Her remarks disregard historical facts, trample on the basic principles of international law, and can only be regarded as an outrageous attempt to justify Japan's potential return to a path of aggression.

If Japan were to launch a preemptive attack against China without being attacked first, China would naturally retaliate, and war between Japan and China would become inevitable.

Once war breaks out, it will certainly bring catastrophic devastation.

A political leader who so recklessly pushes the nation toward the abyss of war is unqualified to serve as prime minister.

Japan once took the wrong path of aggression due to misguided national strategy, inflicting immense suffering on the peoples of Asia. Are we now to abandon the lessons of that historical reflection?

In essence, Takaichi's remarks amount to declaring that Japan may again wage a war of aggression against China under the guise of "preemptive attack".

Criticism within Japan has already emerged, warning that "talking lightly about going to war is unacceptable". Such voices are entirely justified.

Against this backdrop, Takaichi's open assertion that Japan may go to war with China is profoundly irresponsible. She must withdraw these remarks and apologize to the public.

Postwar Japan rebuilt itself as a peaceful nation. We must not allow this hard-won legacy of peace to be overturned by far-right forces.

Regardless of what government emerges in the future, Japan must never again embark on the road to war. Japan must forever exist as a peace-loving nation.

At this moment, safeguarding peace is the paramount mission and responsibility of all Japanese people who cherish peace.

The author is secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, a Japanese civic group.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.