The warm ties between Japan and Taiwan are built on decades of practical cooperation, shared values, and mutual security interests. Their cooperation may be unofficial, but it has been effective in working towards several important tasks: raising Taiwan’s international profile and integrating Taiwan into the international community, demonstrating the benefits of deepening cooperation for both partners, as well as sharing expertise and assistance on critical traditional and non-traditional security concerns. Japan and Taiwan, celebrated their relations by illuminating Tokyo Tower and Taipei 101 in January 2021.
One of the main platforms for Japan-Taiwan cooperation, the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, is known for its flexibility and pragmatic approach to connecting experts from Taiwan, the United States, and Japan. The broad range of the initiative’s workshops in 2021, from public health to renewable energy among others, shows the variety of areas where cooperation between Taiwan and Japan is relevant beyond the bilateral, or trilateral, relationship.
When Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and U.S. President Joe Biden issued a joint statement in April, it included a reference to Taiwan — the first time in 52 years that leaders of the two countries touched on the territory in a joint statement. During the recent Summit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and American President Joe Biden, Japan discussed the ways to safeguard the security of Taiwan. This indicates that the defence and security of Taiwan as one of the top priorities for Japan. Prime Minister Suga referred over the importance of peace and stability of the Taiwan straits between Japan and the US.
Prime Minister Suga referred over the importance of peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits between Japan and the US. Previously, in a meeting as well with US counterpart Lloyd Austin on 16th March 2021, Japan’s Defence Minister Kishi Nobwo stressed upon the importance of US-Japan collaboration in defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese aggression.
According to reports, in the wake of the summit, there has been a decrease in Beijing’s military activities near Taiwan.
According to a recent report, over 28 Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan’s ADIZ on 15 June. China today is highly unlikely to take any steps aimed at annexing Taiwan.
Today, both Japan and Taiwan seem to fully appreciate their common need to work together and take all the necessary steps to checkmate any potential Chinese aggression in the region. Japan and Taiwan will play an important role in areas related to economic security, from supply chain resiliency to safeguarding advanced technologies that could be utilized for national security end-uses. With the growing tension because of China, the coordination and cooperation will only increase between Japan and Taiwan and Japan will enhance their dialogues about the same with US.
