LAST WEEK while our politicians were having their usual drama, recently-elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi proclaimed that any conflict or incident in Taiwan will necessarily also involve Japan, and may therefore, trigger a Japanese intervention.
Naturally, China did not receive this proclamation lightly, and now two of Asia’s largest economies are stuck in a spat. Maybe it will escalate, maybe not, but what Takaichi said is true.
An attack on Taiwan is an attack on Japan’s sovereignty, because it is a maritime-dependent country.
To put it another way, a Taiwan invasion may lead to the People’s Liberation Navy (PLN) of China blocking the Taiwan Strait, which in turn could disrupt Japanese trade and logistics, harming or even shattering its economy. It is for these reasons that Japanese consider an attack on Taiwan as an attack on their sovereignty.
The Chinese may think otherwise, but the Japanese don’t think so, and they are not alone. The Philippines and the United States are also affected by a Taiwan invasion. For the US, a successful Taiwan invasion means that the Pacific is now exposed to the Chinese Navy, which is why they have an interest in preventing a successful invasion. It’s to keep China behind the First Island Chain.
Lastly and most pertinent to my readers, a Taiwan invasion affects us also, for no other reason than that we are very close to Taiwan, thus China can threaten any attack. For the PLN, they must treat the Philippines as a potential threat, even if our leaders hesitate or a proclaim neutrality.
A Taiwan attack is more than an attack on Taiwan. It is also an attack on the First Island Chain, and we are part of the First Island Chain, as is Japan and which the US wants to maintain. So a Taiwan invasion is not just dangerous for Japan. It’s dangerous for us, too./PN
