In a notable move, Japan’s Self-Defense Force (SDF) patrolled the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, marking the first time such an action has been taken. This maneuver aims to convey a message to China regarding its growing military presence in the region, according to reports from a local Japanese newspaper, citing multiple government sources.
SDF Destroyer’s Passage
The SDF destroyer Sazanami entered the waters from the East China Sea early Wednesday morning. The vessel spent over ten hours sailing southward to complete its passage through the strait, as reported by the Japanese newspaper on Thursday. This operation was conducted in collaboration with naval ships from Australia and New Zealand, with joint exercises planned in the South China Sea starting Thursday.
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Government Response
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi refrained from commenting directly on the patrol but expressed concerns about increased military activities by China in the region. He stated, “We have a strong sense of crisis that airspace violations have occurred one after another over a short period of time. We will continue to monitor the situation with strong interest.”
Japan’s Defense Strategy
In response to escalating Chinese military activities, Japan has been enhancing its defense capabilities, which it claims are intended to deter Beijing from utilizing military force to assert its territorial claims. According to the reports, Japan’s SDF had previously avoided sailing through the Taiwan Strait to prevent provoking Beijing, which asserts sole sovereignty over the strait. China views Taiwan, a democratically governed entity, as part of its territory.
International Naval Activities
While Japan’s SDF has taken this step, the U.S. Navy and other international forces regularly transit through the Taiwan Strait to affirm “freedom of navigation.” Notably, the German navy also traversed the strait this month for the first time in two decades, reflecting Berlin’s commitment to support its Western allies.
The Taiwan Strait serves as a crucial trade route, with approximately half of the world’s container ships navigating through these waters.
Rising Military Tensions
On the same day as Japan’s patrol, China successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, leaders of the Quad grouping—Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—expanded their joint security measures in Asian waters in response to shared concerns about China’s military actions.
(INCLUDES INPUTS FROM ONLINE SOURCES)
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