Former National Security Secretariat Head Proposes "Joint Exercises" Between Japan and Taiwan
Shigeru Kitamura, the former head of Japan's National Security Secretariat, has put forward a new proposal regarding cooperation between Japan and Taiwan. On the 9th, Mr. Kitamura expressed his view that the coast guard authorities of Japan and Taiwan should conduct joint training (joint exercises). This proposal is garnering attention as a significant opinion for safeguarding security in East Asia.
The primary reason Mr. Kitamura made this proposal is to address "gray zone" activities by China. The "gray zone" refers to a difficult intermediate state that is neither entirely peaceful nor an actual state of war. For instance, actions such as repeatedly sending vessels near another country's territory to exert pressure fall into this category.
Currently, both Japan and Taiwan face similar challenges regarding maritime security. Mr. Kitamura believes that by conducting joint training through cooperation, Japan and Taiwan will be able to respond swiftly and accurately should any issues arise. He argues that such cooperation is essential for maintaining regional peace.
This proposal has the potential to significantly impact future relations between Japan and Taiwan. However, given the diplomatic ties with China, the focus moving forward will be on the actual decisions made by the Japanese government. It will be necessary to closely monitor the government's future actions and the reactions of neighboring countries.