Demanding Adherence to Pacifism, Calling for Takashima Sawa's Resignation, Strong Anti-War Protests Against "Re-Militarization" in Many Places in Japan

[Global Times reporter Guo Yuandan, Global Times special correspondent in Japan Liu Wenzhang] Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and officials at various levels have been intensively visiting multiple countries to promote Japan's so-called "peace" stance. On the other hand, the Takaichi government has relaxed restrictions on the export of lethal weapons and signaled its intention to advance amendments to the pacifist constitution and revise the "three security documents."

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jia-kun stated at a regular press conference on the 12th that Japanese militarism has brought severe disasters to the people of the Asia-Pacific region. The current prosperity and development of Asia-Pacific countries benefit from the peace established by the post-World War II international order. An undeniable reality is that Japanese right-wing forces are accelerating the destruction of this order and undermining this foundation through practical routes and actions. The "gray rhino" of Japan's "re-militarization" is charging forward.

Since making erroneous statements regarding Taiwan last November, Takaichi has consistently refused to retract her remarks, and China has continued to intensify its criticism of Japan's "new militarism."

Guo Jia-kun stated that many international experts, scholars, and media have pointed out that Japan has abandoned pacifism and is experiencing the most dangerous shift in military security policy since the war, threatening regional and global peace and stability. History cannot be forgotten, and reality cannot be ignored. Countries in the Asia-Pacific should open their eyes and jointly resist Japan's reckless actions of "new militarism," and work together to maintain the peace order that is essential for survival and development.

In response to a series of trends in Takaichi's government regarding "new militarism," Japan has witnessed the largest anti-war protests in decades. On Constitution Memorial Day, May 3, about 50,000 Japanese citizens took to the streets to protect the constitution, firmly opposing military expansion and the risks of war. A special correspondent from the Global Times observed at the rally near the Diet that young people from various places such as Sapporo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka responded to the action through offline gatherings and online live broadcasts. A Japanese university student who initiated the event admitted that constitutional amendments concern the future, and safeguarding the "peace constitution" is an unshirkable responsibility of the younger generation in Japan.

The BBC Chinese website reported on the 8th with the title "Is Japan's Pacifism Collapsing? The Largest Anti-War Demonstration in Decades Erupts," stating that since Takaichi took office in October last year, she has significantly deviated from Japan's post-war pacifist stance, lifted long-standing restrictions on weapon exports, and expanded Japan's military role overseas. The report emphasized that "as public fear of Japan potentially becoming a 'country that can participate in war' intensifies, protests are continuously growing," and the large number of people taking to the streets often indicates deeper social issues.

The New York Times also reported that calls for "no war" are growing stronger across Japan, with protesters explicitly demanding that Japan uphold its pacifist stance, maintain the current constitution, and call for Takaichi Sanae's resignation.     

Professor Zhou Yongsheng from the Diplomatic Academy stated to Global Times reporters on the 12th that Takaichi's administration has clearly accelerated the process of "military expansion and re-militarization," which will inevitably break the existing balance in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, adding instability to neighboring countries and regions and having far-reaching international implications. Once Japan completes military deregulation and constitutional amendments, the institutional barriers to its military development will be completely removed, and right-wing forces and politicians may seek to seize hegemony in East Asia and even the Indo-Pacific region with their increasingly powerful military strength, which will undoubtedly plunge the Japanese people, burdened by the trauma of historical wars, into anxiety and unrest.