Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on December 1 that if China invades Taiwan, Japan and the United States cannot wait, adding that Beijing needs to recognize that “Taiwan’s emergency is Japan’s emergency.” ..
Prime Minister Abe, who resigned last year, is only 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Senkaku Islands (China calls the Diayou Islands), Sakishima Islands, and Yonaguni Island, so an armed invasion of Taiwan poses a serious threat to Japan. Said to bring. ) Away from Taiwan.
“The emergency in Taiwan is the emergency in Japan, and therefore the emergency in the Japan-US alliance. People in Beijing, [Chinese regime leader] In particular, Xi Jinping should not misunderstand this recognition. “
Prime Minister Abe acknowledged the importance of Japan’s relationship with China, but said he must tell China what to say.
“Japan, Taiwan, and everyone who believes in democracy needs to keep encouraging. [regime leader] Xi Jinping and other Chinese Communist Party leaders have repeatedly repeated not to go the wrong way, “he added, adding that Japan and Taiwan must work together to protect freedom and democracy.
Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949, but Beijing considers democratically dominated islands as part of its territory. China stepped up its military flight near Taiwan and sent more than 200 aircraft to Taiwan’s air defense identification zone in October.
Japan is the host of major US military bases, including a short flight from Taiwan, the southern island of Okinawa, which is crucial to US support during the Chinese attack.
The United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with a means of protecting itself, although there is ambiguity as to whether to send troops to assist Taiwan in the war with China.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office in October, has previously renewed his pledge to consider “all options”, including the acquisition of enemy base attack capabilities, to address the security threats posed by China and North Korea. I vowed to strengthen Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. Korea.
Fumio Kishida said he was ready to double Japan’s military spending and capacity, and its cabinet approved a request for an additional defense budget of 770 billion yen ($ 6.8 billion) on November 26.
When Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked about the extent of US commitment to Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, on November 10, if China used force against Taiwan, the United States and its allies would “act.” Wake up. ” Blinken did not identify the type of behavior he was referring to.
“Many countries, both inside and outside the region, take one-sided actions to overcome the status quo as a serious threat to peace and security, and they will do so,” Blinken said. rice field. Said.
Reuters contributed to this article.
follow