Japanese and Taiwanese coast guards recently conducted a joint drill off Japan's eastern coast, marking a significant step in maritime cooperation between the two nations. This exercise comes amidst growing concerns over China's assertive actions in regional waters, particularly in the East China Sea.
The drill took place amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, with Beijing claiming Taiwan as part of its territory and not ruling out the use of force to assert control. China has been known to send coast guard vessels into disputed waters near Japanese-controlled islands, leading to confrontations with Japanese patrol ships.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the joint drill was focused on practical cooperation and exchanges in maritime search and rescue operations, rather than targeting any specific country, including China. The drill involved a Japan Coast Guard patrol boat and Taiwan's Hsun Hu No. 9 off the southern coast of Chiba, with details of the exercise remaining undisclosed.
Japan views Taiwan as an important partner and friend, sharing common values, economic ties, and people-to-people exchanges. Tokyo intends to deepen cooperation with Taiwan based on its commitment to maintaining nongovernmental, practical relations with the island nation.
While Japan established diplomatic ties with China in 1972 under the one-China policy, it has maintained nongovernmental relations with Taiwan through representative offices on both sides. Japan has been enhancing its coast guard capabilities and expanding joint exercises, including trilateral search and rescue drills with the U.S. and South Korea earlier this year, as well as providing support to the Philippine coast guard in capacity-building efforts.
