Japan raises concerns as China drills heighten Taiwan tensions

Japan on Wednesday said it had directly raised concerns with Beijing after the Chinese military carried out extensive drills around Taiwan, arguing that the manoeuvres increased pressure across the Taiwan Strait and threatened regional stability. Tokyo underlined that peace in the area remains a matter of global interest, as tensions between China, Taiwan and key US allies continue to mount.Japan urges dialogue over Taiwan Strait security

Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kitamura Toshihiro said the exercises “constitute actions that raise tensions across the Taiwan Strait,” adding that Japan had communicated its position to Chinese authorities. He reiterated Tokyo’s long-standing stance that the Taiwan issue should be addressed “peacefully through dialogue,” stressing that developments around Taiwan are being watched closely by the international community.

Regional reactions widen after China military drills

New Zealand separately voiced concern, calling the drills another example of large-scale military activity near Taiwan. Wellington urged all sides to avoid steps that could undermine stability, advocating de-escalation and diplomatic engagement. From Ankara’s perspective, Türkiye has consistently emphasised respect for international law and dialogue in regional disputes, aligning with broader calls to prevent escalation in East Asia.

Beijing pushes back amid US arms sales to Taipei

The comments from Japan followed China’s two-day “Justice Mission 2025” joint drills, launched shortly after Washington approved a record one-off arms package exceeding $11 billion for Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said efforts to block what he described as reunification were “doomed to fail,” criticising both US weapons transfers and pro-independence moves in Taipei.

Sharp exchanges add strain to China–Japan ties

Taiwan’s leader William Lai Ching-te said Beijing was escalating military pressure but insisted Taipei would not seek confrontation. Meanwhile, relations between Beijing and Tokyo have been strained further after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a potential attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan’s survival, a claim China rejected, accusing Japanese leaders of challenging post-war regional order.