Japan should have the right to do so, because if a Chinese invasion were to lead to an interruption of the sea lanes and a blockade of Okinawa’s remote islands, that would pose an existential threat to Japan. The law recognizes this right, but it does not require automatic participation in a war. Accordingly, Takaichi’s comment is in line with the Japanese government’s previous position. It also does not contradict the U.S. strategy of strategic ambiguity. Meanwhile, the Japanese general public largely welcomed the Chinese government’s stunt to discourage travel to Japan, because many people had grown tired of naughty Chinese tourists.