Japan: China, North Korea and Russia threaten security since WWII

Japan: China, North Korea and Russia threaten security since WWII

Seoul, South Korea - Japan is faced with the heaviest security situation since the Second World War, according to Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. This is the result of increasing military activities of three potential opponents in East Asia - China, Russia and North Korea. In an introduction to the annual defense paper of the ministry, Nakatani expressed: "The existing order of world peace is seriously challenged, and Japan is in the most difficult and most complex security situation in post -war era."

China's military activities

The report describes China's military activities as "an unprecedented and greatest strategic challenge" for Japan. Nakatani emphasized that Beijing "quickly improves its military skills qualitatively and quantitatively" and "intensifying the activities in the region", especially about the Senkaku Islands, a archipelago controlled by Tokyo in the East Chinese Sea, which is also used by Beijing, where it is called diaoyus.

The geopolitical location

The 34-page document gives a dark outlook on the future of the region, especially with regard to the rivalry between China and the United States, Tokyos most important allies. "The global balance of power is shifting dramatically and the competition between the states continues. In particular, the intergovernmental competition between the United States and China will probably be further tightened in the future," says the white book.

increased tensions around Taiwan

The report warns that China's escalating military activities around the democratically controlled island of Taiwan are a threat. "China is looking for a perfect fact in which the People's Liberation Army (PLA) operates and improved its actual combat skills," is determined.

Russia's cooperation with China

In addition to China, Japan also looks at the activities of Russia and North Korea with concern. The report emphasizes that the PLA is expanding the cooperation with the Russian armed forces, including joint bomber flights and naval patrol near Japan. "These repeated joint activities are clearly geared towards demonstrating strength towards Japan," is quoted in the document.

The threat from North Korea

North Korea is increasingly developing nuclear weapons and the rockets to transport them. The ballistic rockets from Pyongyang, which are believed to be able to wear nuclear explosive heads, can reach the entire Japanese island group. "The military activities of North Korea are an even more serious and more immediate threat to Japan's security than ever," warns the paper.

Summary of the security situation

The Japanese document reflects many of the concerns that Admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of the US Indo Pacific command, expressed in a position paper in April. "China continues to pursue an unprecedented military modernization and increasingly aggressive behaviors that threaten the US homeland, our allies and partners," said Paparo. The in -depth cooperation between China, Russia and North Korea is also an increasingly growing threat in the Pacific.

Overall, it turns out that Japan faces major security policy challenges. The increased military activities of its neighbors and the geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific require urgent strategic considerations and measures.