Japan’s Coast Guard and Taiwan’s Coast Guard held a joint exercise recently, marking the first time since the diplomatic break between Japan and Taiwan. Experts point out the significant symbolic meaning of this collaboration, highlighting Japan’s shift towards a more assertive stance against Chinese coercion. Japan has actively engaged in Indo-Pacific international defense efforts to counter China’s influence and has emerged as a military hub for Western countries in Asia. The move signifies a historic milestone in Japan’s foreign policy approach towards China.
On July 18, patrol vessels from Japan’s Coast Guard and Taiwan’s Coast Guard conducted a joint exercise in the waters off the Chiba Prefecture’s Boso Peninsula, marking the first joint exercise since the diplomatic break in 1972 and attracting international attention. The exercise aimed to strengthen cooperation and unity between the maritime security forces of Japan and Taiwan in response to the unpredictable future scenarios evolving in the East China Sea and South China Sea regions. Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, such exercises are expected to become regular occurrences.
Director of Strategy and Resources at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, Su Ziyun, emphasized the high symbolic significance of the joint exercises between Taiwan and Japan, emphasizing the newfound partnership between the two nations following the diplomatic rift.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated during a press conference on July 19 that Taiwan shares common core values with Japan and is an essential partner with close economic ties and personnel exchanges. He revealed that Japan and Taiwan’s non-governmental liaison organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in areas such as maritime search and rescue, combating smuggling and illegal immigration, emphasizing that this collaboration is not directed against any third country, including China.
Hayashi further emphasized Japan’s commitment to maintaining its relationship with Taiwan through civil affairs and deepening cooperation and exchanges based on this fundamental position. Su Ziyun praised Japan’s actions as a departure from its previous diplomatic approach, marking a significant shift in Japan’s Taiwan policy towards acknowledging the increasing importance of Taiwan’s security in the region.
Regarding the first-ever joint maritime exercise between Japan and Taiwan post-diplomatic break, China expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition. Su Ziyun speculated that Beijing would likely lodge diplomatic protests against Japan, potentially increase the deployment of coast guard vessels or even warships to conduct provocations in disputed waters. However, he noted that Tokyo, Washington, Taipei, and even Seoul may reinforce their bottom lines in the face of Chinese coercion, emphasizing the importance of consolidating these boundaries to ensure peace through strength.
Since President Lai Ching-te assumed office, China has intensified its pressure on Taiwan through increased military activities, including aircraft and naval exercises circumventing Taiwan, violating its airspace, and engaging in provocative behaviors. The long-standing tensions in the region have escalated in the past few months, entering a new dangerous phase for the Taiwan Strait.
In response to Chinese provocations, Lai Ching-te expressed commitment to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities while also strengthening cooperation with allies. Taiwan’s patrol vessel “Guardian 9” participated in an international joint patrol against illegal fishing in the western Pacific Ocean in June and docked at a Tokyo port from July 10 to 17.
On July 18, the “Guardian 9” and Japan’s Coast Guard vessel “Sagami” with a helicopter onboard conducted joint training in the waters near the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula and Izu Oshima. The training focused on maritime rescue scenarios, information sharing, search area allocation, and coordination to enhance interoperability.
In early June, Japan’s Coast Guard sent officials to Taiwan for discussions with Taiwan’s Coast Guard Director-General Zhang Zhonglong to deepen exchanges. Last year in August, Taiwan’s patrol vessel “Guardian 8” entered Tokyo Bay after a decade, and in December 2017, Japan and Taiwan exchanged memoranda of understanding on maritime rescue, confirming mutual cooperation protocols.
In late May, Chinese coast guard ships participated in joint exercises with the PLA Air Force and Navy near Taiwan for the first time and frequently operated in the disputed waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands) claimed by Japan, conducting oceanographic surveys, military exercises, and deploying maritime buoys in Japanese waters.
In response to Chinese actions, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines collaborated in joint exercises in the northern Philippine Sea in June, followed by trilateral naval exercises between Japan, the U.S., and South Korea in the Sea of Japan.
Su Ziyun observed that Japan has significantly enhanced military cooperation with the U.S., South Korea, and NATO, positioning itself as a military hub in the Indo-Pacific region for the Free World bloc. As the joint military exercises in the Pacific region continue to intensify, pointing towards escalating deterrence measures against China and Russia.
Furthermore, Japan hosted a joint military exercise with European countries, including the deployment of a squadron of 48 fighter jets from Germany, France, and Spain, signaling their collective focus on Asia-Pacific security. This exercise, named “Japanese Sky,” forms part of the global joint operational exercise “Pacific Sky 24,” aiming to demonstrate the rapid deployment capability of European forces to Asia.
Besides the 48 fighter jets, the air squadron comprised approximately 1,800 ground personnel, equivalent to an aviation regiment of the Chinese military. Meanwhile, the U.S. and 29 other countries engaged in joint military exercises have entered the second phase, with the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour, carrying F-35B stealth aircraft, en route to the Pacific for participation.
Currently, the Pacific region is bustling with military exercises, underscoring the growing necessity to counter adversaries in the Indo-Pacific region. Su Ziyun highlighted three key observations regarding the increased presence of the U.S. and NATO in the Asia-Pacific region:
Firstly, exercises like “Pacific Sky 24” symbolize the deepening relationship between Japan and NATO countries, acknowledging the interconnectedness of security between North-East Asia and Europe. The vital sea routes connecting North-East Asia to Europe constitute 26% of the world’s maritime trade, signifying the critical importance of Asia-Pacific stability to Europe.
Secondly, Japan’s formal observer status with NATO and the establishment of a NATO office in Tokyo exemplify cross-regional security cooperation that bolsters stability in the Taiwan Strait. NATO countries accept the U.S.’ overall strategy that the openness and peace of the Indo-Pacific region are crucial to Europe.
Thirdly, besides the deployment of NATO military aircraft to Japan, five NATO countries – the U.K., Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands, and France – have sent naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait, joined by the U.S., totaling six countries conducting freedom of navigation operations in the waters near Taiwan. This collective action sends a clear message to Beijing that any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait using force will not be tolerated, setting a new trend in the region.
Japan’s shift from a cautious diplomatic stance to openly countering Chinese influence underscores a significant shift in regional dynamics. Su Ziyun emphasized that Japan and European countries, along with NATO, share concerns about Indo-Pacific security, highlighting a mutual security urgency. Japan has emerged as a crucial security partner in Asia for the United States, acting as the second-largest security pillar after the U.S., rallying democratic nations to deter Chinese expansion through expanded cooperation with NATO.
As Japan collaborates closely with NATO countries and the U.S. to counter regional threats, Su Ziyun concluded that Japan’s evolving stance in the Indo-Pacific region sets a crucial benchmark for the Free World bloc’s response to shared security challenges.