China has urged Japan to support peace in the Asia-Pacific and avoid leading NATO’s expansion into the region. This comes after Japan’s new defense paper, which strongly focuses on Taiwan and accuses China of planning an invasion. China is upset, calling it interference and exaggeration. Experts believe Japan is using this to justify bringing NATO into Asia and increasing its own defense efforts. Japan also highlights threats from North Korea and Russia, aiming to boost its regional influence and defense spending. China insists that tensions in the area are caused by external provocations and can be resolved with better cooperation.

China has asked Japan to help maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and not be the leader in NATO’s efforts to expand into this area. This request came after Japan released a new defense white paper that strongly discussed Taiwan.

Experts believe Japan’s stance on Taiwan is a way to criticize China and increase regional tensions. They suggest Japan is trying to bring NATO into Asia and push its own defense policies. In 2021, Japan first mentioned Taiwan in its defense white paper and has increasingly focused on it since then. The latest paper accuses China of planning an invasion of Taiwan, based on its recent military exercises.

China is very unhappy with Japan’s new white paper. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said it interferes with China’s internal affairs and exaggerates the “China threat,” making regional tensions worse. Lin stressed that China’s defense policies are defensive and legal. He stated that China’s actions regarding Taiwan are legitimate and that the issue of Taiwan is an internal matter for China, with no room for outside interference. He blamed “Taiwan independence” movements, supported by external forces, for recent tensions.

Da Zhigang from the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies stated that Japan’s claims about China trying to reunify with Taiwan are a way to provoke tensions and justify bringing NATO into the region. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, along with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, agreed to work more closely with the US, NATO, and other partners during a meeting in Washington.

Lin criticized the formation of military blocs in the Asia-Pacific, calling on Japan and South Korea to support peace and stability instead of leading NATO’s expansion into the region. Japan’s defense paper also highlights threats from North Korea and Russia, aligning with the US strategy to form an “Asian NATO.”

Japan aims to be a key player in helping NATO enter East Asia, gradually increasing cooperation in various areas. Da Zhigang pointed out that Japan hopes to boost its regional influence through this strategy.

The white paper mentions the possibility of a serious situation in East Asia, similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Chen Yang from Liaoning University said the two situations are different. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is due to failed European security policies and interference by the US and NATO. He believes the tensions in East Asia are caused by provocations from countries like Japan and South Korea, and can be resolved if these countries change their approach.

Japan’s new defense paper uses these perceived threats as reasons to increase its defense spending. The Japan Times reported that the paper includes a chapter on defense capabilities and spending for the first time, with Japan committing to spend 2% of its GDP on defense.

As GreatGameInternational reported earlier, NATO has just opened its first-ever liaison office in the Arab world, located in Jordan, marking a significant shift in its strategy towards the Middle East. This new office in Amman highlights NATO’s deepening ties with Jordan and its broader aim to enhance its presence and influence in the region. Despite NATO’s long history of military involvement in the Middle East, including major operations in Libya, Iraq, and Syria, this move signifies a more permanent foothold. The establishment of the liaison office could stir tensions with other regional powers and amplify concerns about Western intervention in Arab affairs.

References:

• Japan’s Defense White Paper
• Lin Jian, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson – Chinese Foreign Ministry Briefing
• Da Zhigang, Director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies
• Chen Yang, Visiting Researcher at the Institute of Japan Studies, Liaoning University

Read Japan’s Defense White Paper below: