On June 29, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) deployed its amphibious assault ship, the Type 075 Guangxi, in the Western Pacific, marking the first known instance of the warship being spotted in that region. The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed the presence of the Guangxi and the Type 052 destroyer Baotou sailing through the Osumi Strait and into the Western Pacific waters. Later that day, two more PLAN ships, the Type 054A frigate Anyang and the Type 902 support ship Chaohu, were detected sailing through Japan’s Amami islands into the Western Pacific waters. In response, Japan deployed reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, as well as naval vessels, to monitor the movements of the Chinese warships.
This development followed previous reports of two Russian Steregushchy-class frigates sailing near Taiwan and Japan’s Okinawa islands from June 27 to June 30. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry also reported sighting two Russian frigates near its eastern coast on June 27. These incidents occurred amidst growing concerns over China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, where it claims dominion, and fears of a potential escalation in Taiwan, which China considers its own territory.
Meanwhile, the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies invited Taiwanese military experts to participate in military simulations in Tokyo, simulating a Chinese blockade of Taiwan and a large-scale assault in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese scholars were included in the simulation due to Taiwan’s strategic location along critical supply routes for Japan.
Japan has expressed concerns about China’s military threat to Taiwan, devoting significant attention to the issue in its annual defense report. The stability surrounding Taiwan is considered crucial to Japan’s national security, and there is an emphasis on the need for close monitoring and a sense of urgency.
Both the United States and Japan have stated their commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. However, they have not provided specifics on how they would address the internal challenges faced by the Taiwanese and Japanese militaries. It is believed that resolving the situation requires leadership from the United States, as Japan and Taiwan have yet to make sufficient efforts to enhance deterrence and bolster their defense capabilities.
According to Satoru Nagao, a non-resident research fellow with the Hudson Institute, the U.S. must take a leading role in the confrontation with China. In order for leadership to be effective, the leader must be at the forefront of the fight. Japan is planning to increase its defense budget by 56% over the next five years, but it still may not be enough to counter the growing Chinese threat without collaboration with other countries.