Last week, a nonpartisan delegation of Japanese politicians made a trip to Taiwan, the most recent of the group’s numerous previous visits to the Japanese Diet. Although China is frequently irritable, these visits are just important up to a certain level.
Chinese officials, including Shigeru Ishiba, a possible future prime secretary, visiting Taiwan indirectly demonstrate Tokyo’s worry over China’s challenges to Taiwan and indicate a large degree of support for a complimentary Taiwan.  ,
Despite the inevitable criticism that may adopt from China, this latest visit was made. True to form, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo promised that if Taiwan triggered problems, Japan had “pay a large price.”
There’s always the chance, if no likelihood, of renewed Chinese state harassment of Chinese companies operating in China, or grabbing more “hostages” from among the Asian living and working in the PRC.  ,
In addition to the Senkaku Islands and other areas of Chinese maritime territory, increased China Coast Guard and Maritime Militia infringements are a constant risk.
Therefore, continuing these visits despite the risks indicates a certain degree of Chinese commitment to Taiwan, even if some politicians occasionally add a little kabuki to their slim foreign policy prowess or refute rumors that they are too dependent on China.
However, one must ask what has the Japanese government actually done in concrete terms to provide overt ( or even covert ) support for Taiwan’s defense.  , The reply: quite little, if anything.  ,
The Japan Self Defense Force ( JSDF) has effectively no relationship with Taiwan’s armed forces, Tokyo wo n’t even send an active-duty officer to serve as defense attaché or liaison. Rather, it relies on a few former JSDF symbol officers whose usefulness is unknown.
Japan’s Coast Guard recently conducted a simple exercise on a Taiwan Coast Guard ship, but that is irrelevant in terms of what is required and what is practical.
Given the Philippines ‘ strategic place a short distance south of Taiwan, one might assume that Japan’s significant contribution to strengthening Spanish threats by providing police boats, aircraft, sensor systems, and deepening security exchanges indirectly supports Taiwan’s protection.
Beyond these kinds of lawmaker visits and statements supporting the status quo and opposing the use of violence to resolve Taiwan Strait issues, there is n’t much to support Japanese direct support for Taiwan.
This is despite being frequently acknowledged as being important to Japan. For decades, some Japanese officials and many military officers have said that” Taiwan’s defense is Japan’s defense” . ,
That’s correct. It’s obvious that Taiwan is located astride water roads at the northern end of the South China Sea, through which a sizable portion of Japan’s industry and exports come. This crucial backbone for Japan could be squelched if Taiwan is under the PRC’s control.
Additionally, if the People’s Liberation Army were to run out of a seized Taiwan one day, it would set China’s military in a position to remove or even encompass Japan as well as launch military procedures into the Pacific with much more comfortable than it is now.
And Tokyo presumably is aware that if Taiwan is deposed to China, it will sever the foundation of the US military presence there and broader American influence, which Japan is utterly dependent on.
Japan is aware of these dangers and is aware that the Chinese communists want to impose itself on Taiwan and rule the Pacific region as a whole.  , And yet Tokyo still wo n’t do what’s necessary to bolster Taiwan.  ,
And do n’t think the Taiwanese fail to notice.  , And do n’t think Beijing fails to notice.
Maybe Japan will do what’s necessary in the future, but getting there may require waiting for a disaster, and then it will be too late. Therefore, while visiting Japan by Japanese Diet members is beneficial, it’s not nearly as significant as one might assume.
What ought Japan to do? Look at what the Americans are up to for Taiwan and do some of that. Or even just look at what Japan is doing to help Taiwan in some way. But do something.  , And soon.
Former US diplomat and former US Marine officer Grant Newsham. He is a fellow at the Yorktown Institute and the Center for Security Policy, and he was the first Marine liaison officer to join the Japan Self Defense Force.  , He is the author of the book ,” When China Attacks: A Warning To America” . ,