Overview
- Following the call, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the allies reaffirmed close coordination and declined to say whether her Taiwan remark was discussed.
- She told the Diet that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a "situation threatening Japan's survival" (存立危機事態), which would allow limited collective self-defense.
- The Constitutional Democratic Party is facing concentrated social‑media criticism over heckling and questioning that drew out the remark, as a leaders’ debate is scheduled for Nov. 26.
- Protesters gathered in Sapporo on Nov. 24 to oppose defense spending increases and to argue against Japan becoming a country that uses military force.
- Local governance developments also surged: Fukui Governor Tatsuji Sugimoto indicated he will resign after a harassment report, Maebashi Mayor Akira Ogawa submitted a resignation request, Gifu police arrested a group‑home director on assault charges, and Makubetsu’s council will start YouTube livestreams on Nov. 27.