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Japan warns of growing cross-strait tensions in defense white paper

ROC Central News Agency

07/28/2023 04:36 PM

Tokyo, July 28 (CNA) China has been ramping up military pressure on Taiwan and is increasingly wary of the United States' involvement in cross-strait issues, Japan said in its annual defense white paper released Friday.

Although China maintains its policy of peaceful reunification with Taiwan, it has not ruled out the possibility of the use of force, the "Defense of Japan 2023" document said.

For instance, it noted, China stepped up military maneuvers against Taiwan last summer, after then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei on Aug. 2-3, 2022.

Among China's provocative actions were the launching of nine ballistic missiles on Aug. 4, five of which landed within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the English version of the document states.

"This was perceived as a threat to local residents," it said, also pointing out the significant increase of Chinese aircraft entering Taiwan's airspace -- from 380 jets in 2020 to 972 in 2021 and 1,733 in 2022.

The document warned that China has been extensively and rapidly enhancing its military capability in both a qualitative and quantitative manner, with specific focus on its nuclear and missile forces.

For example, the white paper pointed out, China could possess as many as 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, and it is proceeding rapidly with the construction of its second indigenous aircraft carrier.

"China's current external stance, military activities and other activities have become a matter of serious concern for Japan and the international community, and present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge," according to the document.

The white paper also expressed concerns regarding Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, calling the situation "unprecedented."

In addition, it said, Russia's military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, along with its strategic cooperation with China, have become a significant security concern for Japan.

(By Yang Ming-chu and Lee Hsin-Yin)

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