Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks about a “state of existential crisis” have caused relations between Japan and China to rapidly cool. This has always been Japan’s basic policy, but China has reacted sensitively and is stepping up its intimidating actions against Japan. Witnessing this series of incidents, one thing has become clear: China is seriously targeting Taiwan. If that had not been the case, they would have simply ignored Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks. It may now only be a matter of time before a Taiwan emergency occurs. In other words, Japan-China relations were bound to cool sooner or later. All we can do is respond calmly, without being swayed by short-term calculations of gain and loss. (Kei)

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