Former Japanese PM urges Takaichi to back down on Taiwan
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has called on the current head of government, Sanae Takaichi, to retract her remarks about Taiwan and strictly adhere to the one-China principle. This is reported by the Xinhua Agency.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has called on the current head of government, Sanae Takaichi, to retract her remarks about Taiwan and strictly adhere to the one-China principle. This is reported by the Xinhua Agency.
Mr Hatoyama said the prime minister should take his words back or "in some other absolutely unambiguous way" convey that Japan respects the "one-China principle.".
“However, given its nature, it is difficult for me to remain optimistic,” the former prime minister said at the XIII Xiangshan Security Forum in Beijing.
In November 2025, Takaichi Sanae described the crisis over Taiwan as an existential threat to Japan, allowing Tokyo to exercise its right to collective self-defense. The Chinese authorities regarded the statements as interference in the internal affairs of the country.
Yukio Hatoyama was Prime Minister of Japan from September 2009 to June 2010. 8.5 months after taking office, he resigned due to a falling rating and an unfulfilled promise to move the US military base Futenma from Okinawa.
Ernest Philippowski
