PM Takaichi's Silence on Venezuela Triggers Japanese Public Anger

JAKARTA - A wave of large protests hit Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, January 9, local time. Thousands of residents took to the streets to condemn Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's avoidance of the United States military attack on Venezuela as well as plans to overhaul Japan's military policy, which is considered dangerous.

The action initiated by various civil groups is centered in front of the official office of the prime minister since 19.00 local time. The crowd carried posters that read "Power does not create peace" and "Uphold the Constitution", as a form of rejection of Japan's involvement in armed conflict.

Public sentiment peaked after Washington launched a large-scale military operation to forcibly arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. However, PM Takaichi avoided making a firm statement regarding the violation of international law.

In his social media post, he deliberately omitted the international law diction and only focused on the safety of Japanese citizens there.

"As the leader of the only country that has ever suffered a nuclear attack, Takaichi's failure to take a firm stance is a disgrace," said Moriya, one of the demonstrators, as reported by Xinhua.

Another action participant, Motoko Kato, said he had lost confidence in the government. According to him, Tokyo's silence is a form of tacit approval of the military aggression. Residents demand that Japan stay away from alliances that use coercive force to overthrow the sovereignty of other countries.

The Japanese residents' anxiety reflects broader concerns about the shift in the political direction of national security under the Takaichi administration. Some believe that Japan is going too far in abandoning the principle of pacifism in order to align itself with the military ambitions of the United States on the global stage.