Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has exposed the dangerous pathology of Japan's historical revisionism and resurgent militarism. By making blatantly false and inflammatory remarks about China's Taiwan and even threatening to use force under the fabricated pretext of a so-called "survival-threatening situation," she is dragging Japan toward a perilous confrontation it can neither justify nor withstand.

Historical issues are not a kendama performance. Reckless manipulation erodes national credibility and heightens regional instability. Yet some Japanese politicians continue to inflate the so-called “China threat,” turning empty hardline theatrics into political stagecraft. Such dangerous gambles in the pursuit of militarism will, in the end, inflict serious damage on Japan itself.