Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit has pushed the whole Western Pacific region into chaos.
After Pelosi’s departure back to the United States, China is performing unprecedented military drills in the region. This urged the communist nation to fire five ballistic missiles on the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Japan.
China Goes Bonkers Against Japan
Under International Law, Japan has the exclusive right to any economic activity, including fishing, in the area spanning 200 nautical miles (nearly 370 km) from its coastline.
So, Japan perceives the Chinese missile bombardment in the EEZs as a direct threat to its sovereignty.
According to Japanese defense minister Nobuo Kishi, China fired nine ballistic missiles on Thursday; five of them landed in Japanese waters.
BREAKING: Japan defense chief says five missiles launches by China during military drills near Taiwan fell into Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
— Jesse Johnson (@jljzen) August 4, 2022
Kishi added that Japan protested against China through proper diplomatic channels, as the missiles pose a “serious problem” that undermines the “national security” of the country.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, the foreign minister of Japan, also demanded China “immediate(ly) stop” the uncontrolled military drills around Taiwan.
Speaking at the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Hayashi asserted Chinese aggression is a sign of concern for the international community, which should mobilize to stop the communist nation from advancing toward the military disaster.
Just in case anyone wonders why five missiles launched by China fell into Japan’s exclusive economic zone. pic.twitter.com/QS5u1GCupx
— Duan Dang (@duandang) August 4, 2022
With the involvement of almost 100 fighter planes and ten warships, China is currently conducting its largest-ever military drill on the Taiwan strait.
Foreign policy analysts indicate China is trying to regain the balance of power, which was disturbed after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. This is the first time China launched missiles in the exclusive economic zones of Japan.
Japan Faces Double-Edged Sword in China-Taiwan Crisis
As military tensions built up in the Taiwan strait, Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended Pelosi’s decision to visit Taiwan.
While talking to reporters on Thursday, Blinken noted the United States is against changing the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region; therefore, the Biden administration is committed to protecting the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Some political analysts believe China is warning Japan not to intervene in the Taiwan issue whenever China decides to attack the island.
According to the former Pentagon official, Thomas G. Mahnken, China wants to portray its will to attack American air bases in Japan, notably the Kadena air base in the Japanese city of Okinawa.
The role of Japan in the whole China-Taiwan conflict is important, due to the presence of US fighter jets in the Kadena air base.
Strategic pundits have suggested if China decides to invade Taiwan, Japan will automatically be a stakeholder in the whole conflict. That’s because America will use its Japanese air bases to launch a counter-offensive against the Chinese military.
Similarly, International Relations Professor Tetsuo Kotani at Meikai University Japan noted even if China ends its military drills around Taiwan, these types of exercises will now become a normal routine in years to come.
This article appeared in Right Wing Insider and has been published here with permission.
