Want Want Group Vice President Chou Hsi-Wei has cautioned that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent comments regarding the Taiwan region risk destabilizing East Asia's delicate geopolitical balance. In an interview with CGTN's Hou Jing this week, Chou emphasized that such rhetoric could harm Japan's economic interests and regional security.
"Politicians playing with fire on Taiwan issues endanger not just cross-strait peace but also Japan's own stability," Chou stated, referencing Tokyo's deep economic ties with the Chinese mainland. The business leader highlighted that over $300 billion in annual trade flows between China and Japan could face disruption.
The remarks come as regional tensions intensify following Takaichi's November 25 speech suggesting strengthened unofficial ties with Taiwan. Analysts note this aligns with broader Western strategies to counter Beijing's influence, though Chou warned: "No external force should underestimate China's resolve to safeguard its territorial integrity."
With Japan's economy currently facing recession risks, business communities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have called for measured diplomacy. As cross-strait trade volumes continue breaking records in 2025, Chou urged political leaders to "prioritize practical cooperation over dangerous posturing."
