China: Can It Control Japan’s Taiwan Policy?
Niklas Swanström
Introduction:
China’s reaction to US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was resolute. The military exercises with live-fire drill were a nearly Pavlovian reaction suggesting they were long pre-planned. China’s message to the US and the international community was a clear warning not to assist Taiwan, oppose a reunification, prevent a military escalation, or provide political support through visits and exchanges.
The challenge faced by the international community now is on how to move forward. Will countries bow down to Chinese threats, or will they uphold their values and attempt finding a peaceful solution?
In this process, Japan has grown into a central actor, not least due to its increased engagement in international security, very capable military (above all its navy), and its growing commitment to global peace. Japan is instinctively positive towards Taiwan and its democratic development; however, at the same time, it is also concerned about the economic impact of potential Chinese reactions in light of Japan’s growing relations with Taiwan. Beijing’s boycott of South Korea when Seoul placed a new THAAD system on its soil is fresh enough in the Japanese memory. This article will look at how China could increase pressure on Japan and the extent to which it is willing — and able — to go.
Related Publications
-
The Dangers of a Stagnant China: The Necessity of Awkward Coexistence
Abstract: In the build-up to the 20th Party Congress, a series of essays emerged focusing on Xi Jinping cementing a third term as General Secretary of the Communist Party of […]
-
Will the PLA Pledge Total Allegiance to Xi Jinping?
This article was originally posted on The National Interest’s website, you can find the article here. Xi’s resolute grip on the three most powerful positions in Chinese society has […]
-
Will Yoon’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Tackle the China Threat?
In late-December 2022, South Korea under the relatively new presidency of Yoon Suk-yeol effectively concluded its policy shift from “strategic ambiguity” by releasing the “Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and […]
-
The China-Russia ‘Alliance’: Double the Danger or Limited Partnership?
Introduction: According to the recently released 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy, China and Russia “are increasingly aligned with each other but the challenges they pose are, in important ways, distinct.” These […]
-
Finland-Taiwan Relations: An Overview and Changes after COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract: Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between Finland and Taiwan, the two sides have maintained a practical relationship through trade, tourism, and educational and cultural exchanges. The COVID-19 […]
-
Taiwan holds all the chips in US–China tech showdown
Introduction: US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August 2022 touched on the island’s sovereignty — a controversial, historical ‘red line’ in China’s foreign relations. The […]