In the half year since Nov. 7 when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responded in the Diet about a potential military conflict over Taiwan, the cold confrontation between Japan and China has continued.

Nothing good will come from having two nations that should be bearing the responsibility for stability in Asia prolonging this abnormal situation.

In response to Takaichi’s statement, Beijing halted imports of Japanese seafood and implemented stricter restrictions on the export to Japan of products that can be utilized for military and civilian purposes.

The Chinese government has also urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to or studying in Japan and many bilateral exchange events have been canceled.

Beijing viewed as problematic Takaichi’s reference to Taiwan in explaining that a “survival-threatening situation” could arise if a military........

© The Asahi Shimbun