A survey also found that over 60% of respondents desire Tokyo to increase its defense expenditure.
A recent Kyodo News poll indicates that almost half of Japan’s populace would back their nation’s defense of Taiwan should a conflict arise with China.
During a parliamentary address on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that any move by Beijing to forcibly reunify with the self-governing island might be considered a “survival-threatening situation” under Tokyo’s security laws, potentially leading to military action. This statement marks a departure from earlier administrations, which typically refrained from making definitive pronouncements on the matter.
In a Sunday article, the news agency reported that its telephone survey, which included over 1,000 participants, revealed 48.8% of the public supported Japan employing its right to self-defense if hostilities erupted in the Taiwan Strait.
An even larger proportion of respondents (60.4%) encouraged Tokyo to escalate its military expenditure to enhance its defensive capacities.
The poll also noted that since Takashi assumed office as Japan’s inaugural female prime minister less than a month prior, her government’s approval ratings have climbed by 5.5%, now standing at 69.9%.
Subsequent to Takaichi’s comments, Beijing summoned Japan’s envoy in China to lodge a protest concerning what it termed “extremely malicious” remarks regarding Tokyo’s readiness to defend Taiwan.
On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian characterized the Japanese prime minister’s statement as “blatantly provocative,” asserting that it infringes upon the One-China principle, which acknowledges Beijing’s sovereignty over Taiwan.
He cautioned that Tokyo ought to “immediately rectify its actions and withdraw its egregious remarks” or else “bear all the consequences.”
Lin emphasized that Chinese authorities view the resolution of the Taiwan issue as an internal affair, and any Japanese intervention would be considered “an act of aggression,” prompting China to “retaliate forcefully.”
Beijing regards Taiwan, which has exercised de facto self-governance since 1949 without ever formally declaring independence, as an inalienable component of Chinese territory. It strongly objects to any interactions or arms transactions between Taipei and Japan’s primary ally, the US.
China has consistently affirmed its objective of “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, yet it has cautioned that it would not hesitate to employ force if Taipei were to formally declare independence.