Chinese scholars from across the Taiwan Strait have united in condemning recent remarks on Taiwan by Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi, which undermine regional stability and challenge the political foundation of China-Japan relations. At a meeting in Japan's parliament last week, Takaichi claimed that the Japanese Self-Defense Force could exercise the right of collective self-defense if the Chinese mainland "resorts to military force against Taiwan." Despite formal protests from China, she has refused to retract her statements, which implies a readiness for armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait. The scholarly criticism follows a coordinated series of official condemnations issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan Affairs Office, and the Chinese Embassy in Japan. Experts point to a troubling pattern in which right-wing forces in Japan are attempting to use Taiwan as a geopolitical pawn. Takaichi's statements come as Japan moves to significantly increase its defense capabilities. An initiative launched in 2022 aims to enhance large-scale offensive force and sustained high-intensity combat capability. Analysts warn that Takaichi's rhetoric signals Japan's intent to leverage these enhanced capabilities to interfere in what China regards as its internal affairs. Central to China's rebuke are the four foundational political documents that underpin China-Japanese relations: the 1972 Joint Communique, the 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the 1998 Joint Declaration, and the 2008 Joint Statement. These documents collectively affirm Japan's formal stance on Taiwan Region. Meng Xiaoxu, a researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, warned that Takaichi's comments directly challenge this foundation. The controversy has also drawn strong criticism from within the Taiwan. More than 30 civic groups issued a joint statement declaring that "Taiwan people refuse to become victims of Japanese militarism." This sentiment was echoed by Taiwan-based political commentator Hsieh Chih-chuan, who said the remarks reveal a persistent agenda for Japan's political right. Shotlist: Beijing, China - Nov 17, 2025: FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 1. Various of Japan's National Diet building, national flag; Beijing, China - Nov 17, 2025 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhou Yongsheng, deputy director, Center for Japanese Studies, China Foreign Affairs University (starting with shot 1/partially overlaid with shot 3/ending with shot 4): "Her primary strategy is to deter China and dominate the East Asian order. She's also catering to her right-wing supporters in Japan, since her rise to power was built on that kind of rhetoric and political posturing. Finally, she is targeting Taiwan by encouraging and lending support to certain factions there with ulterior motives." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; Tokyo, Japan - Oct 21, 2025 3. Various of Japan's National Diet building [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 4. Various of Liberal Democratic Party building, security guard; Beijing, China - Nov 17, 2025 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Meng Xiaoxu, researcher, Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (ending with shots 6-9): "Today's Japan should even more abide by its political commitments and its obligations under international law by staying out of the Taiwan question. That is what's conducive to regional peace. This touches on three bottom lines: the political bottom line of China-Japan relations, the regional bottom line of regional peace, and the bottom line of the order of international law. The current barriers to economic and cultural exchange between China and Japan are, frankly, Japan's own doing. As a serious challenge to the 'one-China' principle and the political basis of bilateral relationship, Takaichi's remarks are bound to be strongly counterattacked by China."; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 2024 6. Various of pedestrians; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 7. Pedestrians; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 2024 8. Traffic; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 9. Traffic; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 2024 10. Various of cityscape; Taiwan, China - Nov 17, 2025 11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Hsieh Chih-chuan, Taiwan-based political commentator (starting with shot 10/ending with shots 12-13): "Takaichi's remarks prove that the desire among Japan's right-wing to revive militarism has never gone away. Many political parties in Taiwan are questioning her motives, believing this is an attempt to drag Taiwan into a conflict. Her statements have completely crossed the red line -- they are a clear attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs and its path to reunification. The forces pushing for 'Taiwan secession' will never succeed."; FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 12. Various of of Tian'anmen Rostrum; China's national flag, national emblem; FILE: Taipei City, Taiwan, China - Date Unknown 13. Various of landmark building Taipei 101 Tower, traffic. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]