Readiness to Fight Needed to Prevent Taiwan Crisis: LDP Aso
Jiji Press 17:23 JST, August 8, 2023 TOKYO (Jiji Press) Taro Aso, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Tuesday stressed the importance of showing a readiness to fight in order to prevent a war in the Taiwan Strait, where Chinese military pressure is increasing. In a speech in Taipei, Aso said: Japan, Taiwan, the United States and other like-minded partners are being urged to be ready to have strong deterrence work. Thats a readiness to fight. The security environment surrounding Japan and Taiwan is changing certainly, from peacetime to emergency, though little by little, Aso cautioned. The most important thing right now is to prevent a war from happening in this region, including the Taiwan Strait, he also said. For getting deterrence to work, the will to use it when it is urgently needed is important in addition to capability, Aso pointed out. Japans revised three key security-related documents are the countrys answer to a slew of ongoing security issues, he said, adding that strengthening defense capabilities can be powerful deterrence against war, he said. The three security documents were amended late last year. Aso welcomed Taiwans application to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. It is extremely important for Taiwan and Japan to work together in the field of economic security, he said of supply chain cooperation with Taiwan, home to many cutting-edge semiconductor plants. Japan Ruling Party Vice President Offers Flowers at Tomb of Former Taiwan Leader Lee Teng-hui JN ACCESS RANKING The Japan News / Weekly Edition Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting, readable fomat. Read more 2023 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun