In the Name of "Self-Defence"
The right to resist when a foreign army invades one's own territory is recognized under international law. However, even if the military of a hostile nation were to land on a remote, uninhabited island far from the mainland, attacking that nation's sovereign territory in retaliation is not something sanctioned by the United Nations.
While most politicians likely understand this principle, there are times when their rhetoric (and their words) escalates beyond reason. Prime Minister Takaichi's recent statement in the Diet regarding a "Survival Threat Situation" is a case in point.
Japan and Taiwan share a deep friendship, and many Japanese citizens sincerely hope that Taiwan remains a place of freedom. However, the United Nations recognizes Taiwan as part of China, and the Japanese government should avoid statements that could be construed as interference in China's internal affairs. Therefore, it is inappropriate to suggest that the surrounding of Taiwan by Chinese vessels could constitute a "Survival Threat Situation for Japan," as if to imply the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces.
Following a strong backlash from the Chinese government, Prime Minister Takaichi has since refrained from further comments on Taiwan, yet she has not retracted her official Diet testimony. A simple admission that "those remarks were inappropriate" should have sufficed, but the situation has now progressed past that point. One cannot help but wonder: does the Prime Minister's pride simply not allow for a retraction?
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