The annual defense report calls on the Japanese government to pay attention to the tension between the United States and China on the Taiwan issue with an “unprecedented sense of crisis.”

Japan warned in its annual defense white paper that the increasing military tensions surrounding Taiwan and the economic and technological competition between China and the United States may threaten peace and stability in East Asia.

This marks the first time this report (PDF)-Approved by the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday-discussed stability issues around Taiwan.

“China has further strengthened its military activities around Taiwan, including the entry of Chinese aircraft into Taiwan’s airspace in southwestern Taiwan,” the report said in its new chapter on Taiwan. “At the same time, the United States has made clear its military support for Taiwan, such as the transit of US ships through the Taiwan Strait and arms sales.”

It said that stabilizing the situation around Taiwan is important to Japan’s security and the stability of the international community.

“Therefore, more than ever, we need to pay close attention to the situation with an unprecedented sense of crisis,” it said.

For Japan, Beijing’s recent increase in military activities around Taiwan is worrying because this autonomous island is close to the Okinawa chain at the western end of the Japanese archipelago.

Beijing claims that Taiwan is its own territory and has never ruled out the possibility of using force to retake the island.

Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to complete the “unification” with Taiwan, and when U.S. warships passed through the narrow waterway separating Taiwan from China, the Chinese military referred to the United States in June as the “largest in the region”. Risk Maker”. mainland.

As tensions intensify, Tokyo has become more outspoken on this issue. Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Asasataro said earlier this month that Japan should join forces with the United States to protect Taiwan from any invasion.

Taro Aso’s remarks immediately aroused strong condemnation from Beijing, and the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that they “damaged the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations.”

Taro Aso later clarified his comments, saying that any emergencies related to Taiwan should be resolved through dialogue.

Japan’s defense white paper also identified the South China Sea as another key area of ??competition between the United States and China.

“In the South China Sea, China is expanding its military activities, including ballistic missile launches and military exercises involving aircraft carriers,” the paper said.

“At the same time, in July 2020, the United States criticized China’s maritime interests as illegal, and further strengthened its position on China through the implementation of freedom of navigation operations and military exercises involving aircraft carriers.”

Therefore, it added that it is necessary to pay more attention to the military movements of the two superpowers in Taiwan and the South China Sea.

This national defense document also included the threat of climate change for the first time, claiming that it would intensify competition for land and resources, and could trigger a large-scale flow of climate refugees.

The report added that the increase in disasters related to global warming may also expand military capabilities, while the melting of Arctic sea ice may lead to the militarization of northern waters.