TAIWAN - High-level officials, who previously held defense ministry positions in Japan, have visited Taiwan to discuss possible ways to prepare for possible conflict with Beijing and shore up Asia-Pacific defenses in the region, according to the South China Morning Post.
Shigeru Ishiba & Yasukazu Hamada, both former defense ministers of Japan, lead a multi-party group of officials, who are members of a parliamentary security group founded in 2019, in a 4-day meeting with the Taiwanese president for the discussion on Asia-Pacific defenses. Other members of the delegation included Akihisa Nakashima, former deputy defense chief, and Takayuki Shimizu, Upper House member.
The purpose of the meeting was to determine what must be done to shore up Asia-Pacific defenses prior to conflict erupting, as most on the international stage assume conflict is inevitable at this point.
Ishiba has stated that Japan, working closely with the United States to prevent conflict, has a responsibility in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain stability and peace, stating that he hoped Taiwan and Japan can find a way to build a unilateral resolution to all issues, one by one.
Taiwanese President Tsai welcomed them, stating the importance of stability, and thanked the Japanese delegation.
The tensions between China and Taiwan have become volatile due to China's assertiveness of its One-China policy, stating that Taiwan's independence is not applicable and is part of China. The ruling Communist Party in China considers self-ruling Taiwan part of its territory and will take it back by force if necessary. Others in the international community see Taiwan as a possible 1st step toward Chinese dominance in the Asia-Pacific and should be defended at all costs.
Suzuki Keisuke, another former deputy defense minister from Japan, and a highly influential lawmaker in the country also visited Taiwan earlier in the week, attending a security seminar and meeting with the Taiwanese president on Wednesday.
Though there has been little response to Japanese officials visiting Taiwan, China has been very outspoken over a visit planned by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which China says will be a violation of a 50-year agreement to abstain from intervention should Pelosi visit Taiwan.
Escalations this week have mounted between China and the United States as Pelosi's visit looms, The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its battle group are now back in the South China Sea amid tensions. A call on Thursday between presidents Xi and Biden seemed to only escalate tensions as both parties exchanged what some consider dangerous rhetoric, China using words such as "playing with fire".
Shigeru Ishiba & Yasukazu Hamada, both former defense ministers of Japan, lead a multi-party group of officials, who are members of a parliamentary security group founded in 2019, in a 4-day meeting with the Taiwanese president for the discussion on Asia-Pacific defenses. Other members of the delegation included Akihisa Nakashima, former deputy defense chief, and Takayuki Shimizu, Upper House member.
The purpose of the meeting was to determine what must be done to shore up Asia-Pacific defenses prior to conflict erupting, as most on the international stage assume conflict is inevitable at this point.
Ishiba has stated that Japan, working closely with the United States to prevent conflict, has a responsibility in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain stability and peace, stating that he hoped Taiwan and Japan can find a way to build a unilateral resolution to all issues, one by one.
Taiwanese President Tsai welcomed them, stating the importance of stability, and thanked the Japanese delegation.
The tensions between China and Taiwan have become volatile due to China's assertiveness of its One-China policy, stating that Taiwan's independence is not applicable and is part of China. The ruling Communist Party in China considers self-ruling Taiwan part of its territory and will take it back by force if necessary. Others in the international community see Taiwan as a possible 1st step toward Chinese dominance in the Asia-Pacific and should be defended at all costs.
Suzuki Keisuke, another former deputy defense minister from Japan, and a highly influential lawmaker in the country also visited Taiwan earlier in the week, attending a security seminar and meeting with the Taiwanese president on Wednesday.
Though there has been little response to Japanese officials visiting Taiwan, China has been very outspoken over a visit planned by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which China says will be a violation of a 50-year agreement to abstain from intervention should Pelosi visit Taiwan.
Escalations this week have mounted between China and the United States as Pelosi's visit looms, The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its battle group are now back in the South China Sea amid tensions. A call on Thursday between presidents Xi and Biden seemed to only escalate tensions as both parties exchanged what some consider dangerous rhetoric, China using words such as "playing with fire".