Why This Topic Landed in Japan
Reports said about 300 million Taiwan dollars (about 1.5 billion yen) in relief donations — raised from Taiwanese citizens through a Foreign Ministry-led "Kumamoto disaster support project" over a month in August — had been delivered to Japan's disaster-hit areas. Separately, TSMC, which has a plant in Kumamoto, donated 250 million yen; the citizens' roughly 1.5 billion yen and TSMC's 250 million yen are distinct sums, not a single combined figure.
Meanwhile, on the Chinese side, state media and government-affiliated researchers criticized the entry of a Nippon Ishin lawmaker (Nakatsukasa Hiroshi) into the cabinet as "a rightward shift" and "accelerating new militarism." This was commentary from state media and researchers, not a formal statement issued by the Chinese government. The contrast between a neighbor that quickly sends help in disasters and one that aims criticism at a cabinet appointment sharpened existing feelings toward both.
Key Reaction Themes
- Dismissing China's criticism as interference — On the cabinet story, the largest group waved it off as none of China's business, some adding that Beijing's fury was proof the appointment was right.
- Firing back that China is the real aggressor — Many retorted that China itself is the imperialist and militarist, and that a country pointing missiles at Japan has no standing to lecture.
- The Seki Hei angle — A group argued that the presence of the Chinese-born lawmaker Seki Hei in Ishin was what provoked Beijing.
- Gratitude and pro-Taiwan warmth — On the donation story, the largest group poured out thanks and affection for Taiwan.
- Self-critical comparison, and a cooler read of the ties — Some contrasted it with Japan's own weak donation culture, while others noted the economic backdrop — TSMC's Kumamoto plant, and Japan's own subsidies to it.
What Japanese Netizens Are Saying
China calls an Ishin cabinet pick "new militarism"
Chinese state media and government researchers cast a Nippon Ishin lawmaker's cabinet appointment as a rightward, militarist turn.
中国、維新議員の入閣に注目 「日本政府の右傾化」「新型軍国主義」加速と批判 sankei.com/article/202609… 中国国営中央テレビは、日本維新の会の中司宏前幹事長が入閣したことについて、「日本政府の右傾化を加速させることは疑いない」とする中国政府系シンクタンクの研究員の見解を伝えた。
Sources: 2ch
Comments:
- "You lot are the old imperialists, though."
- "The fact that they're losing it means it must be the right move."
- "There's nothing wrong with Japan leaning conservative, to the right."
- "We can't hear a word of the nonsense from you lot, who point ballistic missiles at Japan."
- "A dictatorship is saying something, I see."
- "Why is China so scared?"
- "They just want an excuse to say 'militarism.'"
- "They're losing it because Seki Hei, a lawmaker of Chinese origin, is in Ishin — he had comrades genuinely killed at Tiananmen, so he's the real anti-communist."
- "Why don't they just democratize and form a cabinet of their own? lol. They're jealous, aren't they?"
- "'New militarism' lol. What even is China?"
- "It's none of your business."
- "If you just nitpick everything, eventually nobody listens anymore — so foolish."
Taiwan sends about 1.5 billion yen to Kumamoto
Taiwanese citizens and companies sent about 1.5 billion yen to Kumamoto's disaster areas, with TSMC donating another 250 million.
Sources: livedoor News
Comments:
- "Japanese people don't donate, though — there's a world of difference in civic decency."
- "Taiwan! Taiwan! Taiwan!"
- "By the way, when Taiwan was the very first to send a rescue team during 3/11, the DPJ government of the time held Taiwan's team at the airport — it wanted to let in the teams from China and Korea, who it was on good terms with, first — and let the later-arriving Chinese and Korean teams through."
- "Every single time, thank you so much."
- "It's probably because a Taiwanese company is building a factory in Kumamoto."
- "Taiwan is a country."
- "This is the bond our Japanese forebears wove!!"
- "The government gave Taiwan's TSMC '500 billion yen for Kumamoto and Tsukuba' back on June 29, 2022 — Japan subsidizes them too."
