Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's reckless provocation, dangerous rampage shaking peace in Northeast Asia

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's reckless provocation, dangerous rampage shaking peace in Northeast Asia

Japanese Prime Minister Takaiichi spoke both on Taiwan and Dokdo, Korean territory, upon taking power. This is by no means a normal act of diplomacy. The national interest has disappeared, and only political thug diplomacy for far-right populism remains.

Taiwan is an internationally sensitive area and a key geopolitical issue at the height of the U.S.-China strategic competition. While it is risky for Japan to deal with the issue directly, Takaiji's careless comment on "regional peace and balance" is already contradictory. In a volatile situation, Japan should do it by putting out the lights, not increasing them. However, Tokyo is now giving up diplomatic prudence and choosing to take on its own initiative to plunge the entire Northeast Asia into crisis.

What's worse is that the provocation has led to the Dokdo issue. It's an old cliché that Japan's far-right politics pulled out Dokdo to rally its supporters in every crisis phase of domestic politics. However, the old rules don't work in Korea. Dokdo is the perfect territory of the Republic of Korea historically, geographically, and internationally, an immutable fact that will not be swayed by any political show or forced argument.

It should be noted that Prime Minister Takaichi mentioned Taiwan and Dokdo at the same time. This is not just a slip of the tongue, but a clear sign.
"Japan will return to its past fantasies of putting pressure on its neighbors again."
Such a political message is a dangerous choice to lose the trust that Japan has gradually built up since the war, and an irresponsible provocation that leads to Japan's diplomatic isolation.

Takaiichi's move is all the more worrisome because it does not require diplomatic considerations or regional cooperation, but merely "internal politics" to win the applause of Japan's internal far-right. Realistic agendas such as peace, economic cooperation, and historical reconciliation in Northeast Asia go unnoticed. Takaiichi's diplomats are overshadowed not by the 21st century, but by the 1940s, when militaristic delusions dominated.

Korea should be resolute.
Dokdo is not a subject of negotiation, and Japan's irresponsible intervention in Taiwan is not acceptable. Korean diplomacy should clearly declare the following principles.

"Respond decisively to provocations, respond with facts about distortion of history, and with actions on territorial issues."

If the Takaichi government continues its reckless provocation, it is not just Korea and China that Japan should bear. The international community as a whole perceives Japan as a unstable country, which in turn will bear the burden of diplomatic isolation and economic costs. In the end, Japan will bear the direct responsibility for the damage.