Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s frigate “Sazanami”
The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and other Japanese media reported today (26th, Sept) that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s frigate “Sazanami” sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time on 25/09 to assert its freedom of navigation.
The report pointed out that following similar voyages by the United States and European navies in recent years, a frigate of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force passed through the Taiwan Strait between China and Taiwan for the first time on the 25th, Sept.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense did not immediately confirm the report.
Beijing claims jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two sides of the strait, but the United States and many other countries cite freedom of navigation as the norm.
Washington and its allies have angered Beijing by recently increasing their navigation of the 180-kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait in an effort to strengthen its position as an international waterway.
Two Germany warships passed through the Taiwan Strait on 13th,Sept, which China condemned as adding security risks to the Taiwan Strait.
Japan is a key ally of United States, and before the Japan warship’s first reported voyage through the Taiwan Strait, Tokyo lashed out in August for what it called the first confirmation of a Chinese military aircraft intrusion into Japan’s airspace, calling it a “grave violation” of sovereignty.
Japan’s Media “Yomiuri Shimbun”, citing anonymous government sources, said Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida directed the action because he feared that inaction after China’s invasion of Japan’s territory could galvanize Beijing to be more assertive.
In addition, the Chinese Navy aircraft carrier Liaoning once entered Japan’s adjacent zone on 18th,Sept while sailing between Japan’s Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island, which is adjacent to Taiwan, which is the first time that a Chinese Navy ship has sailed in Japan’s adjacent zone.
Tokyo’s condemnation of the incident is completely unacceptable; China, for its part, says it is complying with international law.
Beijing has said it will never give up the use of force to control Taiwan, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping has in recent years raised the rhetoric that “reunification” is “inevitable.”
In response, Taiwan has increased its own defense budget while strengthening economic and political ties with its partners. United States is Taiwan’s main partner and largest arms supplier.
日本放送協會(NHK)及其他日本媒體於今日（26日）報導，日本海上自衛隊的護衛艦「漣」號（Sazanami）於25日首次通過台灣海峽，以表達對航行自由的主張。
報導指出，這艘護衛艦的航行是繼美國和歐洲海軍近年來類似行動之後的又一例，標誌著日本海上自衛隊首次穿越中國與台灣之間的台灣海峽。
日本防衛省尚未對此報導作出即時確認。
北京方面聲稱對台灣海峽擁有管轄權，但美國及其他多國則以航行自由為由，認為這類航行是正常的行為。
近期，華盛頓及其盟友加強了對台灣海峽的航行，強調其作為國際航道的地位，這一舉動引發了北京的不滿。
德國的兩艘軍艦於13日穿越台灣海峽，中國對此表示譴責，認為此舉將增加台海的安全風險。
作為美國的重要盟友，在此次日本軍艦據傳首次經過台灣海峽之前，東京在8月對中國軍機入侵日本領空的事件提出強烈譴責，稱其為「嚴重侵犯」日本主權。
根據《讀賣新聞》引述的匿名政府消息人士，因擔心中國在侵犯日本領土後的無所作為可能會激勵北京更加獨斷，因此日本首相岸田文雄指示進行此次行動。
此外，中國海軍的航空母艦遼寧號於18日在靠近台灣的日本與那國島與西表島之間航行時，曾一度進入日本的鄰接區，這是中國海軍艦艇首次在日本鄰接區內航行。
東京對此事件表示「完全無法接受」，而中國則聲稱其行動符合國際法。
北京已明言不會放棄使用武力來控制台灣，中國領導人習近平近年來不斷強調「統一」是「無可避免」的。
作為回應，台灣在加強與合作夥伴的經濟和政治聯繫的同時，也提高了自身的國防預算。美國是台灣的主要夥伴，也是最大的武器供應國。
