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TOKYO — Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent statement suggesting Japan’s potential intervention in a "Taiwan contingency" has polarized the international community, particularly escalating tensions with China. However, a new public opinion poll reveals that a significant portion of the Japanese public supports the Prime Minister's stance, with twice as many respondents finding “no problem” with the remarks compared to those who viewed them as problematic.
The survey, conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun on November 22-23, indicated that 50% of respondents felt "there is no problem" with PM Takaichi's Diet (parliament) answer concerning Taiwan. Conversely, only 25% viewed the statement as problematic. This substantial gap underscores a degree of public acceptance, if not endorsement, for a more assertive national security posture concerning the neighboring strait.
Political and Generational Divides Emerge
Support for PM Takaichi's controversial comments exhibited clear patterns across political and generational lines:
Political Affiliation: Unsurprisingly, support was strongest among conservative party bases. A substantial 65% of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) supporters and 54% of Japan Innovation Party supporters found no issue with the remarks. Among supporters of fringe conservative and ultra-right parties, such as the Sanseitō and Japan Conservative Party, support soared past 80%. In contrast, opposition party supporters were heavily critical: 57% of Constitutional Democratic Party supporters and approximately 70% of Komeito and Communist Party supporters saw the comments as problematic.
Age Demographics: Younger demographics were more inclined to support the Prime Minister's position. 55% to 60% of those under the age of 50 found the comments unproblematic. Support softened among older groups, dropping to 49% for those in their 60s and 41% for those aged 70 and over. Analysis of open-ended responses suggested that many of the supporters believed the remarks were simply a “natural statement from the perspective of Japan.”
Context: The "Existential Threat" Declaration
The comments in question were made by PM Takaichi during a House of Representatives session on November 7. She stated that Chinese military action involving warships could be interpreted as an "existential threat" (zonritsu kiki jitai). This designation is crucial under Japan's revised security legislation, as it is the legal threshold that permits Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense—meaning the Self-Defense Forces could be deployed to aid an ally, such as the United States, even if Japan itself is not directly attacked.
PM Takaichi is the first sitting Japanese Prime Minister to explicitly apply this critical security-law concept to a potential Taiwan contingency. China reacted swiftly and strongly to the statement, implementing retaliatory measures, including the suspension of Japanese seafood imports.
Stable Cabinet Support Despite Tensions
Despite the diplomatic fallout and the sensitive nature of the topic, the poll indicated that the support level for the Takaichi Cabinet remained remarkably stable. The cabinet's approval rating was 65%, identical to the rating in the previous month's survey. The disapproval rating also saw little change, moving only slightly from 22% to 23%. This stability suggests that the Prime Minister's bold security posture, while causing international friction, has not significantly eroded her domestic political standing.
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