China panics after Takaichi declares intention to remilitarize Japan
This looks less like justice and more like strategy.
The comprehensive electoral victory of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over the weekend secured the Liberal Democratic Party a two-thirds majority in the Japanese Diet, a broad and inarguable mandate for her proposed nationalist revival.
Following her victory, Takaichi was not coy about her policy ambitions — stating firmly on Monday that her goal is to rewrite the Japanese constitution to remilitarize the islands.
“We will work toward constitutional revision while looking ahead to the nation’s future,” the prime minister said. “I am determined to create an environment where a national referendum on constitutional amendment can take place as soon as possible.”
Sanae Takaichi, center, Japan’s prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, puts pins marking the names of candidates who won lower house elections, at the LDP headquarters on Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
The Chinese Communist Party, already frustrated by Takaichi’s refusals to kowtow on Taiwanese sovereignty, is openly alarmed by the prospect of the Japanese right-wing finally fulfilling a decadeslong campaign to break out of their pacifist handcuffs.
“Various signs indicate that Japan’s right-wing forces are deliberately attempting to challenge the post-war international order from multiple aspects, including military, public opinion and law,” Senior Col. Jiang Bin, spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said on Tuesday.
He added: “The international community should remain highly vigilant and resolutely take measures to curb this situation, and join hands to safeguard the fruits of victory of World War II and regional peace and stability.”
Takaichi’s cemented position is a major concern for China, which has been outraged with the prime minister for months after she acknowledged a hypothetical invasion of Taiwan as a national security threat that could warrant a military response from Tokyo.
Members of the Beijing elite called Takaichi an “evil witch” and a diplomat stationed in Japan even threatened to “cut off” her “filthy head” following her comments. That ire only grew as Takaichi repeatedly refused to walk back her position.
Takaichi offered an olive branch to the CCP on Monday — suggesting she is open to a mutually respectful dialogue — but Beijing balked.
“No one would accept dialogue when one side talks about dialogue while engaging in confrontation with the other,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian …
This looks less like justice and more like strategy.
The comprehensive electoral victory of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over the weekend secured the Liberal Democratic Party a two-thirds majority in the Japanese Diet, a broad and inarguable mandate for her proposed nationalist revival.
Following her victory, Takaichi was not coy about her policy ambitions — stating firmly on Monday that her goal is to rewrite the Japanese constitution to remilitarize the islands.
“We will work toward constitutional revision while looking ahead to the nation’s future,” the prime minister said. “I am determined to create an environment where a national referendum on constitutional amendment can take place as soon as possible.”
Sanae Takaichi, center, Japan’s prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, puts pins marking the names of candidates who won lower house elections, at the LDP headquarters on Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
The Chinese Communist Party, already frustrated by Takaichi’s refusals to kowtow on Taiwanese sovereignty, is openly alarmed by the prospect of the Japanese right-wing finally fulfilling a decadeslong campaign to break out of their pacifist handcuffs.
“Various signs indicate that Japan’s right-wing forces are deliberately attempting to challenge the post-war international order from multiple aspects, including military, public opinion and law,” Senior Col. Jiang Bin, spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said on Tuesday.
He added: “The international community should remain highly vigilant and resolutely take measures to curb this situation, and join hands to safeguard the fruits of victory of World War II and regional peace and stability.”
Takaichi’s cemented position is a major concern for China, which has been outraged with the prime minister for months after she acknowledged a hypothetical invasion of Taiwan as a national security threat that could warrant a military response from Tokyo.
Members of the Beijing elite called Takaichi an “evil witch” and a diplomat stationed in Japan even threatened to “cut off” her “filthy head” following her comments. That ire only grew as Takaichi repeatedly refused to walk back her position.
Takaichi offered an olive branch to the CCP on Monday — suggesting she is open to a mutually respectful dialogue — but Beijing balked.
“No one would accept dialogue when one side talks about dialogue while engaging in confrontation with the other,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian …
China panics after Takaichi declares intention to remilitarize Japan
This looks less like justice and more like strategy.
The comprehensive electoral victory of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over the weekend secured the Liberal Democratic Party a two-thirds majority in the Japanese Diet, a broad and inarguable mandate for her proposed nationalist revival.
Following her victory, Takaichi was not coy about her policy ambitions — stating firmly on Monday that her goal is to rewrite the Japanese constitution to remilitarize the islands.
“We will work toward constitutional revision while looking ahead to the nation’s future,” the prime minister said. “I am determined to create an environment where a national referendum on constitutional amendment can take place as soon as possible.”
Sanae Takaichi, center, Japan’s prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, puts pins marking the names of candidates who won lower house elections, at the LDP headquarters on Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP, File)
The Chinese Communist Party, already frustrated by Takaichi’s refusals to kowtow on Taiwanese sovereignty, is openly alarmed by the prospect of the Japanese right-wing finally fulfilling a decadeslong campaign to break out of their pacifist handcuffs.
“Various signs indicate that Japan’s right-wing forces are deliberately attempting to challenge the post-war international order from multiple aspects, including military, public opinion and law,” Senior Col. Jiang Bin, spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said on Tuesday.
He added: “The international community should remain highly vigilant and resolutely take measures to curb this situation, and join hands to safeguard the fruits of victory of World War II and regional peace and stability.”
Takaichi’s cemented position is a major concern for China, which has been outraged with the prime minister for months after she acknowledged a hypothetical invasion of Taiwan as a national security threat that could warrant a military response from Tokyo.
Members of the Beijing elite called Takaichi an “evil witch” and a diplomat stationed in Japan even threatened to “cut off” her “filthy head” following her comments. That ire only grew as Takaichi repeatedly refused to walk back her position.
Takaichi offered an olive branch to the CCP on Monday — suggesting she is open to a mutually respectful dialogue — but Beijing balked.
“No one would accept dialogue when one side talks about dialogue while engaging in confrontation with the other,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian …
