Former Japan Self-Defense Forces Army Commander: Japan’s supply of weapons to foreign countries “should be included in Taiwan”

The Indo-Pacific Strategic Think Tank held the "Taiwan-Japan Science and Technology Future Forum" today. Former Japan Self-Defense Force Army Commander Kiyofumi Iwata made a special speech and stated that he strongly advocated that Japan and Taiwan are an indivisible community with a shared future. Japan has lifted relevant restrictions on the transfer of weapons and can provide weapons to foreign countries. However, it is currently limited to 17 countries. Unfortunately, Taiwan is not included. "I think it should be included one day in the future."

Iwata Kiyofumi pointed out that the first island chain is a breakwater that prevents China’s military expansion into the Western Pacific. The goal of the “Chinese Dream” advocated by Chinese President Xi Jinping is to dominate the Western Pacific. From this perspective, Taiwan is the core and center of gravity of the first island chain, and it is also a key point.

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Iwata Kiyofumi analyzed that if Taiwan falls under Chinese rule, Xi Jinping's dream will indeed be realized. Such an unfortunate thing must not be allowed to happen. China will use Taiwan Island to attack from the first island chain, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy and Air Force will continue to advance towards the Western Pacific. What does this mean? That is, Japan's security strategy will be forced to face major changes.

Iwata Kiyofumi said how important Taiwan is. In terms of energy, the South China Sea route is indispensable. It is precisely because this route will be restricted that Taiwan is so important. In fact, the Japanese government is well aware of its importance and is formulating various response plans in response to "trouble in Taiwan."

Iwata Kiyofumi mentioned that, especially in March last year, the Japanese government had actually formulated a plan to conduct national evacuation drills in the event of an incident in Taiwan. This plan has been drawn up for the 100,000 residents living on the Sakishima Islands, as well as local tourists, and a plan to evacuate 120,000 people to Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefectures. A practical drill will be conducted in November this year. This is the Japanese government's preparation for something in Taiwan.

"If Taiwan can maintain the status quo, it will be a vital national interest for Japan!" Kiyofumi Iwata said that the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once said, "If something happens to Taiwan, something will happen to Japan." Abe's wife, Ms. Akie Abe, reversed this sentence and believed that "Taiwan's security is Japan's security." She believes that this is completely true.

Iwata Kiyofumi said that Japan and Taiwan are indeed a community with a shared future. This community of shared future is specifically demonstrated in what matters. China is imposing economic coercion on neighboring countries. Japan is also facing very serious coercion from China and is indeed deeply disturbed by it. For example, on January 6 this year, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it would strengthen export controls on Japan’s dual-use products.

Kiyofumi Iwata mentioned that a while ago, Bloomberg News reported that China shipped hundreds of containers filled with dual-use military and civilian materials via railways and exported them to Russia and Iran. Should we respond to China's somewhat cunning approach with wisdom and let Taiwan and Japan work together?

Iwata Kiyofumi emphasized that Japan has lifted restrictions on the transfer of five major types of weapons and can basically provide weapons to the outside world. However, it is currently limited to 17 countries. Among these 17 countries, unfortunately Taiwan is not currently included. "I think it should be included one day in the future." As for non-weapons, there are no restrictions on dual-use parts, so Japan and Taiwan should assist each other.

Regarding specific cooperation between Japan and Taiwan in the field of defense industry, Iwata Kiyofumi believes that the most potential area is unmanned aerial vehicles, especially the dual-use part, and we must cooperate in a real way. He gave an example: Japan's UAV market is now dominated by up to 90% of aircraft produced by Chinese companies. This is a very serious problem.

Kiyofumi Iwata further said that in order to change this dependence structure, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry proposed in December last year the goal of establishing a production base in Japan to produce 80,000 drones per year by 2030. In addition to promoting the localization of core components such as motors, batteries, communication modules, and flight control chips, it has also established a policy of cooperation with countries with similar concepts, including Taiwan.

According to analysis, Japan is moving towards getting rid of its dependence on China. Japan has a very urgent need for the drone supply chain, while Taiwan’s drone industry has excellent manufacturing capabilities, deep and solid information and communication technology, and a sense of trust in the non-red supply chain.

In April this year, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Drone International Academy and the Japan Drone Association signed a letter of intent for cooperation in Tokyo, confirming that they will cooperate in creating a non-red supply chain, certification and talent cultivation.

He emphasized that he hopes that Japan and Taiwan will promote drone cooperation in the near future and build a scale system with tens of thousands of drones. Of course, the cooperation model established by drones can also be applied in other fields. These should be promoted with the common goal of getting rid of dependence on China.