Takaichi defends Taiwan remarks amid Beijing backlash

AWANI

Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi clarifies she hadn’t intended to cite a specific case when saying a Chinese attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan’s survival, stressing she was responding to calls for concrete examples.

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00:00Japan's Prime Minister Senai Takechi defends her earlier remarks that a Chinese attack on Taiwan

00:05could constitute an existential crisis for Japan, saying she was merely responding to requests for

00:12concrete examples and that it did not represent a shift in government policy. She adds that her

00:18comments fell within Japan's established position on collective self-defense, which allows limited

00:24military action when Japan or close partners face existential threats. Facing opposition

00:32leaders in parliament for the first time since taking office, Takechi stressed that moving forward,

00:37her priority is to build a comprehensive and positive relationship with China through dialogue

00:43while safeguarding Japan's national interests. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have worsened

00:49following her comments and China's sharp response. In retaliation, China has imposed travel boycotts,

00:56suspended imports of Japanese seafood, halted approvals for new films and cancelled cultural events.

01:03On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo,

01:07demanding Takechi withdraw her statement on Taiwan and warning that Japan must not be let down the path to war.

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