Japan at risk amid US-China conflict?..."Japan could face danger over Taiwan issue"

Military Conflict Inevitable to Receive US Support
"Before Preparing for Conflict, Communication Support and Tension Reduction Mediation Needed"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Amid growing concerns over physical conflict between the US and China following Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, visiting Taiwan, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 29th that Japan could unexpectedly be put at risk.

SCMP, citing diplomatic observers, forecasted, "Maintaining security is a common interest of major regional allies Japan and South Korea, but Japan will have to take a direct role in supporting US forces if a conflict occurs."

Fumiko Sasaki, an international relations expert researching Asia and Japanese politics at Columbia University in New York, explained, "Japan has no choice but to side with the US if an issue arises in the Taiwan Strait," adding, "Japan must cooperate with the US to prepare for emergencies in the Taiwan Strait."

Cheong Mong, associate professor at Waseda University's School of International Liberal Studies in Japan, said that although Japan has shown a cautious attitude toward the Taiwan issue over the past decades, it is not prepared to handle accidental problems and conflicts.

Researcher Sasaki also saw room for Japan to act as a mediator between China and the US. He evaluated, "The most important preparation is to support communication between China and the US and to ease tensions between the two regional powers to avoid accidental situations."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He explained, "Japan's goal is clear: stability in Asia, including improving relations between China and Taiwan," adding, "Japan should focus on avoiding conflict before preparing for military confrontation." Earlier, Foreign Minister Park Jin also mentioned, "Maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait is very important for South Korea and the Indo-Pacific region."

In May, President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as essential elements for security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

China considers Taiwan not as an autonomous independent country but as a province. On the 26th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarded Speaker Pelosi's planned visit as support for Taiwan independence, stating, "If she visits Taiwan, she must bear all consequences," and warned, "She will face strong measures."

Speaker Pelosi is scheduled to visit Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.