Japan PM Kishida Fumio says he fears that today’s Ukraine may be tomorrow’s East Asia

2022-09-23

The ever-growing tense relationship between Taiwan and China has cought the attention of another global leader. This time, it was Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. In a press conference following the United Nations General Assembly, Kishida was asked if Japan would fight alongside the U.S. if China invaded Taiwan. He responded that Japan would take "concrete measures" to protect its citizens and their livelihoods. He also said he felt a sense of impending doom and that today’s Ukraine could be tomorrow’s East Asia.

After attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held a press conference, where he was asked what Japan would do if there was a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Reporter
Bloomberg
President Biden recently said that the U.S. is prepared to deploy U.S. forces in the case of China invading Taiwan. Is Japan prepared to deploy its forces alongside the U.S.?

Kishida Fumio
Japanese prime minister
Regardless of the circumstances, in order to protect the nation and the lives and livelihoods of our citizens, we must abide by our legal framework based on our domestic laws, including the constitution and the Legislation for Peace and Security, and respond with concrete measures. This will not change under any circumstances.

A few days ago, U.S. President Joe Biden said for the fourth time the U.S. was willing to defend Taiwan. Kishida apparently did not say much about how Japan would act. However, he reiterated that a new Japanese security strategy would be formulated within this year and that defense capabilities would be thoroughly strengthened within five years. Next year, Japan’s defense budget is expected to reach a new high of 5.6 trillion yen, which is about NT$1.24 trillion.

Kishida Fumio
Japanese prime minister
Some countries do not abide by norms and use military force and coercion to trample over the peace and security of other countries. In order to prevent these kinds of situations from occurring, increased defense budgets can have a deterrent effect.

Kishida did not name or openly criticize China. He noted that Japan did not seek confrontations and would pursue dialogue — but he still felt a strong sense of crisis.

Kishida Fumio
Japanese Prime Minister
We have witnessed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. I think Ukraine may be tomorrow’s East Asia. I have a strong sense of crisis.

China’s recent military exercises have reminded everyone about its intentions to annex Taiwan. Japan is taking precautions to prepare for a potential crisis in the Taiwan Strait.

台灣有事怎因應? 岸田文雄:具體行動保家衛國

2022-09-23

台海情勢全球關注! 日本首相岸田文雄訪美期間，召開記者會，也被問到要是台海爆發戰爭，怎麼因應。岸田表示，一定會採取具體行動，保護國家和人民。他也強調自己抱持強烈的危機意識，今天的烏克蘭可能就是明天的東亞。

日本首相岸田在紐約出席完聯合國大會，召開記者會報告成果，果然被問到台海問題。

[[彭博記者]]
“拜登總統日前說，如果中國侵略台灣，美軍將會出兵，日本是否會配合美國派出部隊？”

[[日本首相岸田文雄]]
“無論如何，為了保衛國家和國民的生命與生活，基於憲法和和平安全法制等國內法，在法律的框架中確實遵守，拿出具體的因應，這點在任何情況下都不會改變。”

日前美國總統拜登第四度表態，願意防衛台灣。日本怎麼行動，岸田沒有多說。但重申，今年內將制定新的安保戰略，5年內要徹底強化防衛能力，明年國防預算將拉到新高5.6兆日圓、合台幣1兆2400億。

[[日本首相岸田文雄]]
“有些國家不守規則，用武力和威嚇，去踐踏其他國家的和平與安全，為了預防這種情況出現， (防衛預算增加)可以產生嚇阻效果。”

不點名暗批中國，岸田表示，日本不追求對立，而是追求對話，但不能沒有危機意識。

[[日本首相岸田文雄]]
“我們目睹俄羅斯侵略烏克蘭，我認為，烏克蘭可能就是明天的東亞，我是抱持著強烈的危機感。”

今日烏克蘭，明日東亞，對於兩岸潛在衝突，日本正在積極防患未然。