Storyline: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's provocative remarks on China's Taiwan region undermines regional security and stability, experts from Iraq and Pakistan have warned. Takaichi recently said that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. Despite multiple representations from China, the Japanese side has refused to retract the remarks. Ayman Al-Shammari, a professor of political science at the University of Baghdad, said Takaichi's remarks infringe on China's sovereignty and could heighten regional tensions. The professor also warned that the shifts in Japan's foreign policy could threaten maritime shipping and international trade in the region. "International law has clearly affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan. UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 explicitly recognizes that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Any remarks by other countries akin to those made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi amount to interference in China's internal affairs and violate China's sovereignty," Al-Shammari said. "Japan needs to retract such remarks at the diplomatic level, especially as there are already voices of opposition in the Diet warning that these remarks could spark serious international crises and their repercussions could radiate to neighboring countries and regions. If Japan's internal policies continue down this path, its foreign policy is likely to shift as well, potentially leading to a revival of its offensive military capabilities. That would raise grave concerns over regional security and stability and threaten maritime shipping and international trade in the region," he said. Sultan M. Hali, a Pakistani expert on international affairs, wrote in the daily World Tribune that Takaichi's recent remarks on Taiwan are "not only a violation of Japan's political commitments but also a dangerous provocation that threatens regional peace." The expert said that Asia cannot afford a return to the ghosts of militarism, and that Japan must honor its commitments. Shotlist: FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown: 1. Various of Japan's National Diet building, national flag Baghdad, Iraq - Nov 17, 2025: 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ayman Al-Shammari, political science professor, University of Baghdad (partially overlaid with shots 3-5): "International law has clearly affirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan. UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 explicitly recognizes that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Any remarks by other countries akin to those made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi amount to interference in China's internal affairs and violate China's sovereignty. Japan needs to retract such remarks at the diplomatic level, especially as there are already voices of opposition in the Diet warning that these comments could spark serious international crises and their repercussions could radiate to neighboring countries and regions. If Japan's internal policies continue down this path, its foreign policy is likely to shift as well, potentially leading to a revival of its offensive military capabilities. That would raise grave concerns about regional security and stability, and threaten maritime shipping and international trade in the region." [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] Tokyo, Japan - Oct 21, 2025: 3. Various of Japan's National Diet building FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Aug 18, 2023: 4. Sign showing Japanese prime minister's office FILE: Tokyo, Japan - 2017: 5. Japanese prime minister's office building [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Tokyo, Japan - November 2024: 6. Various of traffic, pedestrians Beijing, China - Nov 18, 2025: 7. Screenshot of Pakistani expert's article criticizing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 2024: 8. Various of cityscape [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]