Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has refused to back down following her controversial remarks Friday on the possibility of Japan becoming involved in a Taiwan contingency under certain circumstances, pushing the line further than any of her predecessors.

On Monday, she tried to soften the impact of the remarks, noting that she has ¡°no intention¡± of changing the government¡¯s official position.

¡°I gave a somewhat concrete answer while considering the worst-case scenario,¡± Takaichi told the Lower House Budget Committee on Monday, declining to backtrack on her remarks last week. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll refrain from making explicit statements on specific scenarios.¡±