The Foreign Desk Could Taiwan draw the US, China and Japan into war?
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Dec 13, 2025 Journalist Yuka Royer, Director Steve Chang, and expert Ava Peshova dive into the escalating tensions between Japan and China after Prime Minister Takaichi's comments on Taiwan's security. Royer highlights China's swift backlash and the economic repercussions for Japan. Chang discusses Japan's strategic importance for U.S. military operations and China's historical sensitivity towards Japanese involvement in Taiwan. Peshova analyzes China's long-term goals with Taiwan and its aggressive tactics to test regional responses. A critical discussion on geopolitics unfolds!
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Survival Language Unlocks Military Options
- Japan's constitution restricts military action, so leaders frame responses as "survival-threatening" to justify intervention.
- Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan remark activated constitutional and geopolitical sensitivities across the region.
Off-The-Cuff, But Predictable
- Takaichi's comment came in a parliamentary reply rather than a prepared speech, yet reflected her long-standing China hawk stance.
- The Japanese public is divided between supporting a tougher line and viewing the remark as a diplomatic error.
Reduce Market Concentration Risk
- Diversify export markets to reduce vulnerability to Chinese trade retaliation.
- Japan's seafood exporters already softened impact by shifting markets after prior bans.