Japan's Security Concerns Amid China's Military Drills

Japan has warned about escalating tensions with Taiwan due to increased Chinese military exercises. The country's annual security assessment highlights threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, emphasizing the potential for regional conflict involving Taiwan. Japan is concerned about its proximity to Taiwan and the involvement of U.S. forces stationed in the country.

Japan issued a stark warning on Friday about the heightened tensions with Taiwan, fueled by a surge in Chinese military exercises. These drills appear aimed, in part, at preparing Beijing's forces for a potential invasion of the democratically governed island. This concern was highlighted in Japan's annual security assessment, which also flagged threats from North Korea and Russia.

Tokyo's annual Defence White Paper noted that, due to the increase in military activity, the possibility of heightened tensions cannot be discounted. These recent drills are part of a series, including last year's manoeuvres in the Taiwan Strait that a senior U.S. general identified as crucial to any invasion plan.

The warning follows a NATO meeting in Washington where members described China as a 'decisive enabler' of Russia's war in Ukraine, posing systemic challenges to European security. Japan, with its closest island just 110 km from Taiwan, hosts significant U.S. military assets that could be deployed to defend Taiwan, raising fears of regional conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)