Japan Defense Research Institute: “The South China Sea is the foundation for China’s confrontation with the U.S. and unification of Taiwan.”

Publication of China Security Report... “We seek to exclude U.S. influence by strengthening the Navy and Coast Guard.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Rak Choi = In the 'China Security Report 2027' published on the 13th, the Defense Research Institute under the Japanese Ministry of Defense analyzed that the South China Sea is an extremely important sea area for China, which is seeking to unify Taiwan, and a key base for confronting the United States.

According to NHK and others, this report pointed out that it is not only strategically beneficial for China to keep the South China Sea under control and block U.S. military actions in case of emergency, but also leads to improved operational capabilities in waters far from mainland China.

In particular, it was predicted that if the Chinese military blocks the Bashi Strait between Taiwan and the Philippines and secures superiority in the waters and airspace of southern Taiwan, it will be able to advantageously carry out an invasion operation from the South China Sea to southern Taiwan.

At the same time, he pointed out that China has strengthened its coast guard function by defining the territorial dispute with the Philippines and others in the South China Sea as a "domestic issue" and predicted that it will continue to strengthen its navy, coast guard, and maritime militia to seek to exclude the United States' military influence in these waters.

The report then suggested to the Japanese government that in order to protect the rule of law and freedom of navigation, it is important for Japan to strengthen solidarity with friendly countries and expand its involvement in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), including cooperation in defense equipment and technology.

The China Security Report is released once a year.

The Agency for Defense Analyzes stated that this report was written from the independent perspectives of researchers and does not represent the official views of the Japanese government.