Takaichi Sanae Taiwan Statement: Breaking 50 Years of Strategic Ambiguity

A handshake in Gyeongju wasn't enough to mask the underlying tension. While Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Chinese President Xi Jinping met during the APEC Summit on October 31, 2025, the diplomatic atmosphere soured just days later. On November 7, Takaichi told the Diet that Japan could exercise its right of collective self-defense to mobilize the Self-Defense Forces if China used military force against Taiwan. It's a move that has effectively upended decades of carefully worded diplomacy.

Beijing's response was swift and harsh. They've accused Japan of suggesting military intervention in what China considers an internal affair. Emphasizing that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China," the Chinese government is now applying economic pressure to force a retraction. This isn't just a war of words; it's the latest flare-up in an issue that's remained the most volatile point in Japan-China relations since 1949.

Takaichi Sanae Taiwan Statement and the Breaking Point of the 1972 Modus Vivendi

To understand why this matters, we have to look back at the 1972 normalization of diplomatic relations. Back then, Japan chose to "understand and respect" China's position rather than legally recognizing it—a subtle but crucial distinction. According to former Ambassador Kuriyama Takakazu, this wording was a "modus vivendi," a temporary compromise that allowed both nations to move forward without actually settling Taiwan's legal status.

But that 50-year-old compromise is reaching its limit. In the 1970s, China didn't have the military muscle to invade Taiwan, so the differences in interpretation didn't trigger immediate alarms. Today, the context has shifted. China's massive military expansion over the last decade has turned a theoretical disagreement into a present-day security threat. Takaichi's comments signal that Japan is no longer willing to hide behind the veil of strategic ambiguity, prioritizing deterrence over diplomatic comfort.