Japan may be caught unprepared if it gets involved in a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait, a former navy chief said.
In a Sankei newspaper opinion column via Japan Forward, Yoji Koda, a retired commander of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Forces (MSDF), warned of “devastating consequences” if the country did not prepare itself for a potential conflict involving Taiwan and China.
China has been more aggressive in its claim over Taiwan in recent years, to the point of condemning countries that show support for the island nation.
China’s ‘Military Unification’
In a spat over a Taiwanese office in Washington possibly changing names, China warned the United States against violating the “One China Policy,” which asserts Taiwan as its territory.
As a country allied with Taiwan, Koda asserts that Japan should seriously consider preparing for the worst.
“It is not definite that China will pursue the military reunification route,” Koda said in his piece. “Nevertheless, there is no excuse for completely closing one’s eyes as to what might happen.”
While no one would want to resort to force, Koda reminded that China choosing to employ military unification “is one of the more convincing options” from a defense perspective.
