On Tuesday, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its annual Diplomatic Blue Book, highlighting multiple challenges Japan faces from China, North Korea, and Russia. It emphasized that China’s ongoing military actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea have put Japan’s security environment in its most severe post-war period.
The Blue Book mentioned North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile development, including the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact of this conflict on the global security environment.
However, some of the strongest words were directed at China.
“The Chinese Communist Party is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea, including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands (referred to as the Diaoyu Islands by the mainland), and is continuing to enhance its military activities in the region, placing Japan’s security environment in the most severe and complex period since the end of World War II,” the report stated.
In the East China Sea, China has laid sovereign claims over the Senkaku Islands under Japanese jurisdiction and has intensified maritime and aerial patrols in the area, prompting protests from Japan. In the South China Sea, tensions between China and the Philippines are escalating. The Japanese Diplomatic Blue Book emphasized the importance of accelerating cooperation among Japan, the United States, and the Philippines to address the threats in the South China Sea.
What worries Japan the most is China’s potential invasion of Taiwan. Due to its geographical proximity, Japan’s security would be threatened in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in the Blue Book the importance of the peaceful stability of the Taiwan Strait for Japan’s security and the overall stability of the international community.
Regarding the relationship with Taiwan, the Blue Book stated that Taiwan is an extremely important partner for Japan, sharing fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy, basic human rights, and the rule of law.
To enhance deterrence, the Blue Book pointed out the necessity of cooperating with like-minded countries to establish a “multi-layered network” centered around the Japan-US alliance, including networks involving countries such as Australia, India, and NATO members.
China firmly opposed this Blue Book from Japan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the Japanese document during a press conference on Tuesday, accusing it of echoing blackening accusations against China, exaggerating the so-called Chinese threat, unreasonably interfering in China’s internal affairs, to which China strongly objects.