Japan to outline Taiwan’s strategic importance, concerns over China’s maritime strength in defence white paper

The annual report, expected to be released next month, mentions the self-ruled island for the first time and describes stability in the Taiwan Strait as crucial for Japan

It comes as the US and its allies have warned Beijing about its rising military pressure on Taipei

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Analysts view Japan’s submarine capabilities as an effective way for the country to defend its national security and back up the US and other allies in the event of a maritime conflict with China. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:17pm, 17 Jun 2021Updated: 8:21pm, 17 Jun 2021

Japan’s growing concerns about China’s maritime strength, and the strategic importance Tokyo places on Taiwan, will be among the significant features of the 2021 defence white paper that it is expected to be released next month.

A draft shown to policymakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party several weeks ago, and referenced in the Japanese Asahi newspaper this week, describes stability in the Taiwan Strait as crucial for Japan.

It will be the first time the self-ruled island has been named in the annual paper, and comes as more Western nations and their allies warn China about its rising military pressure on what Beijing describes as a breakaway province.

According to media reports, the paper will point out that the Chinese military has become more active close to the self-ruled island and that such operations are “a strong concern in terms of security for the region, including Japan, and the international community.”

It also states that China spends an estimated 20 trillion yen (US$180.7 billion) on defence annually, four times the figure Japan allocates to its Self-Defence Forces.

Tensions surrounding Taiwan have been aggravated by the deepening competition and hostility between the United States and China, including in the field of cutting-edge technology, and the white paper states that “stabilising the Taiwan situation is important for Japan’s national security and stabilisation of the international community”.

China air force sent warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone earlier this week. Photo: Handout

On Tuesday, China’s air force sent 28 warplanes into the island’s air defence identification zone, a day after a US aircraft carrier held drills in the disputed South China Sea. Several days previously, at the G7 summit in Britain earlier this week, the group for the first time issued a statement mentioning Taiwan and emphasising the importance of “peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.

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