Japan directly expressed concern over Taiwan’s security situation for the first time in its annual defence review released on Tuesday. The review, approved by Prime Minister (PM) Yoshihide Suga’s administration, also acknowledges that China is Japan’s primary national security concern.
“Stabilising the situation surrounding Taiwan is important for Japan’s security and the stability of the international community...Therefore, it is necessary that we pay close attention to the situation with a sense of crisis more than ever before,” The Straits Times wrote, quoting the defence ministry’s annual white paper.
Last year’s report merely noted that the overall military balance between China and Taiwan is tilting in China’s favour and that the gap appeared to be growing every year. However, the latest report went a step further to say: “Attention should be paid to trends such as the strengthening of Chinese and Taiwanese forces, the sale of weapons to Taiwan by the United States, and Taiwan’s development of its main military equipment.” Moreover, the report mentioned how China has been intensifying military activities around Taiwan, including the multiple intrusions by Chinese aircraft into Taiwanese airspace.
It also noted how the United States (US) has “demonstrated a clear stance of supporting Taiwan in military aspects” through weapon sales and transits by the US vessels through the volatile Taiwan Strait, which have heightened tensions with Beijing in the region. “As the conflict between the US and China over Taiwan is becoming ever more apparent, Japan must monitor developments with an acute sense of tension,” the review stated. In addition, the white paper outlined the increasingly tense security environment around Japan, as rapid military build-up by “military powers with high quality and quantity.” “Chinese military threats, combined with insufficient transparency about China’s defence policies and military affairs, have become a matter of grave concern to the region, including Japan and the international community,” it stated.
Recent comments by Japanese politicians also reflected Japan’s concern over the situation in Taiwan. Three days ago, Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said any “attack on Taiwan would be construed as an attack on Japan” because instability in Taiwan would also mean grave security risks for the latter. Similarly, Deputy Defence Minister Yasuhide Nakayama expressed concern over the growing threat posed by Chinese and Russian collaboration two weeks ago and said it was necessary for Tokyo to “wake up” to Beijing’s pressure on Taiwan and protect the island. “We have to protect Taiwan as a democratic country,” he said.
Furthermore, in a show of support for the island, Japan’s upper house of the parliament adopted a resolution last month that called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to include Taiwan in its general meetings, arguing that Taipei’s expertise on COVID-19 measures is indispensable. However, Beijing says that only China can represent all of its territories at the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations, including the WHO, which limit membership to states.
Japan Raises Concern Over Taiwan’s Security For First Time in Defence Review
Japan referred to Taiwan’s security for the first time in its annual defence review, calling it a “crisis.”
July 13, 2021
SOURCE: KYODO