Japan’s Taiwan Strait transit is message to Beijing: Analysts

Japan’s Taiwan Strait transit is message to Beijing: Analysts

2024-09-26

A Japanese Self-Defense Force vessel has transited the Taiwan Strait. Though similar transits are relatively common for military vessels from other countries, it is a first for Japan. The destroyer was joined by vessels from Australia and New Zealand, to conduct a joint exercise in the South China Sea. Analysts say the passage was meant as a clear signal to Beijing.

Japan’s NHK reports that a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel has transited the Taiwan Strait. The ship sailed from the north to the South China Sea to take part in a joint exercise with Australia and New Zealand. It’s the first time Japan sails through the waterway. The event has captured media headlines.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
It’s the first time that a Japanese Self-Defense Force ship has sailed transited the Taiwan Strait. It sends a clear signal to Beijing. In recent years we have seen an increasing number of vessels from various countries sailing through the Taiwan Strait, including the US, the UK, Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands and Germany. And now Japan. It’s essentially given rise to a coalition of countries that believe maintaining security in the Taiwan Strait is an increasingly important issue.

According to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, the Japanese destroyer completed the transit on Wednesday, accompanied by military vessels from Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Kyodo News noted that the US regularly sends warships to sail through the area to assert freedom of navigation in international waters. It added that China has been increasing its military activities around Japan.

Lai Shyh-bao
Lawmaker (KMT)
To a certain extent, it means that tensions are on the rise in the Taiwan Strait. To be honest, Lai has been stoking antagonism between the two sides of the strait. Can’t he come up with a way for both sides to sit down for a talk?

Rosalia Wu
Lawmaker (DPP)
The opposition party has missed the point, and is picking on the wrong target. Amid China’s constant military provocations, the opposition party points its finger at its own government. Why don’t they every condemn China for its provocations?

China has ramped up its military intimidation in waters near Taiwan. Critics say the KMT’s take on the issue could send the wrong message to the international community.

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日護衛艦"首度通過台海" 學者:警告北京意味濃

2024-09-26

共軍近期在日本周邊頻繁進行軍事活動，還侵入日本領空、領海，根據日本報導，日本海上護衛艦昨天也破天荒、史上第一次通過台灣海峽，前往南海聯合軍演，而且同時，澳洲紐西蘭的海軍艦艇也通過台海。學者分析，日本向北京警告意味明顯，已經形成八國聯軍態勢。

日本NHK報導，日本自衛隊護衛艦通過台海，雖然是為了前往南海參加和澳洲、紐西蘭的海上聯合軍演，這因為是史上第一次，格外引發關注。

[[國防院戰略與資源所長蘇紫雲]]
“這次應該是日本自衛隊第一次通過台海，向北京警告意味非常明顯，第二個就是近年來我們觀測到，通過台灣海峽的各國船艦越來越多，包括美國、英國、加拿大、土耳其、荷蘭以及德國，加上日本，等於形成八國聯軍的態勢，證明台海安全更重要，對各國都是非常關鍵的”

根據日媒讀賣新聞報導，這艘護衛艦25日通過台灣海峽，"澳洲和紐西蘭的海軍艦艇也通過台灣海峽"；日本共同社也報導，這可能是"為了強調航行自由"，牽制在日本週邊頻繁開展軍事活動的中國。

[[立委(國) 賴士葆]]
“其實某種程度也表示台海越來越緊張。這個老實講，賴總統是不是，除了一方面一直在提高兩岸的對立之外，能不能也想辦法怎麼樣讓兩岸能夠坐下來好好談”

[[民進黨立院黨團幹事長吳思瑤]]
“在野黨似乎又劃錯重點、挑錯對象，面對中國一再地進行軍事的挑釁，在野黨永遠只會指責自己的政府，為什麼在野黨永遠不敢，對於發動軍事挑釁的中國，進行任何的譴責呢”

中國頻頻在周邊海域惹事，各國團結一致，藍營的發言恐怕不只讓綠委不滿，也讓國際一頭霧水。

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The Western and Eastern traditions can unite, showing that religion is one family.

The Beigang Chaotian Temple has taken a historic step by traveling to the Vatican to showcase Mazu, in a uniquely Taiwanese display of religious diplomacy.

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