Comicomment: Erroneous remarks open Pandora's box

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Nov. 7 during a Diet hearing that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, implying the possibility of Japan's armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.

The erroneous remarks are tantamount to opening a "Pandora's box" of resurrecting Japanese militarism, pushing East Asia toward confrontation and dragging Japan onto a dangerous path. Japanese politicians and the public have criticized Takaichi for plunging the country into a "national crisis" and bearing "grave responsibility."

The international community will not allow Japan to deny history or repeat past mistakes. Any attempt by Japan to meddle in the cross-Strait situation is a challenge to the post-war international order. If the "Pandora's box" of militarism is reopened, the consequences will be disastrous—and any resurgence will be firmly crushed.