Posted on 03/19/2026 1:30:52 PM PDT by RoosterRedux
Takaichi had sparked a furious response from Beijing in November when she told parliament that a Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan by force could prompt the intervention of Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
China responded by suspending imports of seafood and issuing travel advisories for its nationals not to travel to Japan, resulting in a sharp decline in Chinese tourist numbers to the country.
The intelligence report, issued on March 18, said that Takaichi's characterization of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan — as a "survival threatening situation" for Japan — carried weight.
The term could open the door for Japan to intervene under its 2015 reinterpretation of its Constitution, which allows Japan's military to engage in "collective-self defence" to protect allied forces under certain scenarios.
The U.S. report also said that "China is employing multidomain coercive pressure that probably will intensify through 2026, aimed both at punishing Japan and deterring other countries from making similar statements about their potential involvement in a Taiwan crisis."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
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Japan is shaking off the last vestiges of its World War II self-imposed isolationism and starting to assert itself regionally again. The country has woken up and realized that it is a first rank world power and can act like one responsibly - the choice doesn’t have to be between total pacifism and warmongering Imperial Japan. Part of the reason for this is China overplaying its hand and scaring Japan into action with its bellicosity. And Japan’s neighbors have become a lot more willing to accept an assertive Japan precisely because of China’s bellicosity. Let’s see how far Japan goes to becoming a regional counterweight to China.
If we were to defend Taiwan, I have a strong suspicion Japan would be an ally.
Given Japan’s history of producing some of the world’s best destroyer crews dating back to WWII, that could be valuable. In 2026, they are not the same people they were in 1936, that is for sure.
Anyway, let’s hope it never comes to that.
China has not ruled Taiwan since 1895. Japan did from 1895-1945.
Japan has far more at stake than the US. China will not stop at Taiwan, and probably not even at Okinawa. The Ryukyus are stepping stones to Kyushu and beyond. The fall of Taiwan is an existential threat to Japan. Whether they can stop it is a good question. Probably not without a lot of help.
“”””Given Japan’s history of producing some of the world’s best destroyer crews dating back to WWII””””
This isn’t much to our navy guys but I toured a Japanese destroyer in San Diego, it was of interest to me because of my dad’s navy battles in the WWII Pacific.
Pretty amazing how quickly Japan went from being stuck in the 17th century, when Commodore Perry arrived, to having arguably the most modern armed forces within a few decades.
This pronouncement by Takaichi about Taiwan makes China sit up and take notice.
This is a big thing.
This is a sea change.
Japan should take a clue from Trump and rename the East China Sea, the West Japan Sea. And Taiwan should rename the South China Sea, the South Taiwan Sea.
Now the Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere is a good idea.
Haha. Ditto that.
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