by Hua Gesheng

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently declared that a potential contingency in Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan -- one that might justify invoking the right of collective self-defense. This statement is not just provocative; it is a dangerous and blatant departure from Japan's postwar identity. By implying possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, Tokyo has crossed a red line that risks destabilizing the entire Asia-Pacific region and shattering decades of hard-won peace.

This statement is not an isolated incident. It is the latest symptom of a deeper and more alarming trend: the systematic dismantling of Japan's pacifist principle by the resurgent right-wing forces. Emboldened by incremental gains, they are trying to rewrite historical narratives, erode constitutional constraints, and steer Japan away from its solemn post-war commitment to never again wage war.

Eight decades after the atomic devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, some Japanese leaders still cling to a selective narrative that frames Japan solely as a "victim" -- conveniently omitting its role as the aggressor that plunged Asia into 14 years of unspeakable suffering. Without honest reckoning, there can be no true peace. Without accountability, the ghost of militarism will never rest.

HISTORY'S STAINS DO NOT FADE WITH TIME

History does not disappear -- it resonates. The massacre of over 300,000 souls in Nanjing, the systemic sexual enslavement of "comfort women," the biological atrocities of Unit 731, the scorched-earth campaigns from Singapore to Manila, these are not relics of a distant past; they are wounds that still bleed in the collective memory of Asia.

Japan's war of aggression caused over 35 million casualties in China alone and claimed about 50 million lives across the region. It was not an act of "self-defense," as revisionists now claim, but a brutal campaign of imperial conquest launched in 1931 under the false excuse of "survival crisis." To whitewash this legacy -- to pretend Japan was merely "dragged into war" -- is to insult the victims and betray the living.

A nation that refuses to confront its darkest chapters cannot claim moral authority in shaping the future. Genuine peace begins with truth, not denial.

SPECTER OF MILITARISM RISES AGAIN

The Potsdam Declaration clearly stipulated that Japan must not rearm, and Japan's post-war constitution codified the principle of "exclusive self-defense." Over generations, this commitment has been the bedrock of Japan's regional credibility and global standing.

But today, that foundation is being shattered. Textbooks are being rewritten to blur its history of aggression. Politicians pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine -- where Class-A war criminals of WWII are enshrined -- framing reverence for the war dead as "patriotism." Defense budgets soar, long-range strike capabilities are pursued, arms export restrictions are lifted, and whispers of "nuclear sharing" grow louder.

Most alarmingly, the Japanese government has publicly linked the Taiwan question to its own security narrative, framing a "Taiwan contingency" as a pretext to justify its military buildup. This contravenes the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, infringes on China's sovereignty, and undermines the post-war international order. This is not a "survival-threatening situation." It is strategic adventurism cloaked in the language of self-defense.

CHINA'S CORE INTERESTS PERMIT NO EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE

China's position on the Taiwan question is consistent and unequivocal: it is purely an internal affair of China and brooks no external interference. China has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side, urging Tokyo to immediately halt its provocative acts or bear the consequences for any further escalation.

The Chinese people defeated Japanese militarism under extremely dire circumstances. Today's China has both the will and the capability to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity with even greater confidence. Japan must not misread China's restraint or underestimate the Chinese people's determination to defend their core interests.

PEACE AND STABILITY SHOULD NOT BE UNDERMINED AGAIN

The post-war international order was built on the victory over fascism, and Taiwan's return to China is an important part of that order. Japan's attempts to change the order challenge not only China's sovereignty, but also the broader framework of regional and global peace. Nations across the Asia-Pacific, including South Korea and Russia, watch Japan's rightward shift with growing concern. However, the United States, in its zeal to counterbalance China, has dangerously enabled Tokyo's rearmament, forgetting the hard lesson of history about Japan: once militarism takes root, the entire region pays a high price.

Let it be clear: the challenges facing Japan lie not in imagined external threats, but in its stagnant economy, aging population and unsustainable public debt. Channeling precious resources into arms expansion and military posturing is not a display of strength -- it is strategic self-sabotage.

JAPAN ON THE EDGE OF CLIFF: IT MUST CHOOSE WISELY

Japan stands at a historic crossroads. One path leads to reconciliation, responsibility, and a renewed commitment to peace. The other, the path it now treads, leads to escalation and the revival of a militarist past that brought catastrophe upon itself and its neighbors.

The tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not random acts of fate. They were the culmination of a militarist trajectory that Japan chose, for which the whole Asia paid in blood.

Today, the warning signs are flashing. But it is not too late to halt this descent. Japan must remember: peace is not inherited -- it is actively chosen, every day, through humility, honesty, and respect for the lessons of history.

The world is watching. Asia is watching. And the Chinese people will not stand by when history is distorted and China's red lines are crossed.

Editor's note: Hua Gesheng is a commentator on international and multilateral affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News Agency, Global Times, China Daily, CGTN, etc. She can be reached at gesheng1213@gmail.com.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.