China Watches US-Japan Summit Closely... Taiwan Issue to Be Discussed

US to Place Japan at Forefront of Pressure on China "US Cannot Deploy Troops to Taiwan"
Biden Supports Revising Peace Constitution to Make Japan a Stronger Ally

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Cho Young-shin] China is closely watching the outcome of the US-Japan summit scheduled for the 22nd (local time), where President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to discuss the Taiwan issue.

Photo by Huanqiu Shibao Capture

China is concerned that President Biden will support Japan's military buildup, including increased defense spending, effectively placing Japan at the forefront of pressure against China.

The state-run Global Times reported on the 21st under the headline "To Prevent China's Unification, the US Will Make Japan a Stronger Pawn," stating that the US and Japanese leaders will discuss the Taiwan issue.

The outlet said the purpose of this summit is to make Japan a stronger American pawn in the Asia-Pacific region, thereby obstructing China's unification.

The Global Times pointed out the importance of the meeting held on the 15th at the US Pentagon between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada. It reported that both sides agreed to cooperate smoothly to prevent unilateral changes in the Taiwan Strait. It also noted that Secretary Austin emphasized that the Diaoyu Islands (called Senkaku Islands by Japan), which Japan illegally claims as its territory, fall under the scope of the US-Japan Security Treaty.

Da Zegang, director of the Northeast Asia Research Institute at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Japan hopes to revise Article 9 of its pacifist constitution, and it is highly likely that the US will support this." He predicted, "The US and Japan leaders are likely to discuss tactical nuclear sharing and the role of US forces stationed in Japan during this summit."

The Global Times, citing military experts, analyzed that although President Biden has stated he will defend Taiwan, the actual likelihood of direct US military involvement is low, and Japan will act on behalf of the US. From China's perspective, this means the US may tolerate or support Japan's revision of its pacifist constitution.

A military expert, speaking anonymously to the Global Times, said, "If a war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwanese authorities will collapse first, followed by Japan," adding, "The US will make decisions that best suit its interests depending on the situation." The expert explained that although President Biden mentioned deploying US troops to the Taiwan Strait, actual action is unlikely.

The Global Times reported that since Japan needs justification to strengthen its military power, the US will continue to escalate tensions over the Taiwan issue.

Meanwhile, the People's Daily reported on the same day about a meeting between Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. It criticized the US for not honoring its "Four No's and One Without" pledge (no new Cold War, no regime change, no strengthening of alliances, no Taiwan independence, no intention to confront China). The report stated that a new Cold War between China and the US would be a disaster not only for the two countries but for the entire world, urging the US to return to a rational and pragmatic China policy.

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