Japan is escalating its provocations, threatening to deploy missile units near Taiwan; China immediately retaliates, taking a two-pronged approach, listing Japanese entities under control measures and setting clear red lines.

Neither High City Hayato herself nor her government has reflected on the turbulence in Sino-Japanese relations caused by her statement about "Taiwan's affairs being Japan's affairs." After winning the parliamentary election, she continues to play both sides. On one hand, High City Hayato stated in her policy speech that "the comprehensive advancement of the strategic mutual benefit relationship with China" and that the Japanese government will continue to communicate with China about "various unresolved issues and challenges." On the other hand, she does not retract her erroneous statements but instead continues to provoke on the Taiwan issue. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro openly declared today (24th) that by 2030, new missile units will be deployed on Yonaguni Island.

Deploying new missile units on Yonaguni Island? Why? Of course, it is to deal with what High City called "Taiwan's affairs are Japan's affairs," which is a prelude for Japan's military intervention in the Taiwan Strait issue. Yonaguni Island is only about 111 kilometers away from Taiwan Island and is located at the westernmost end of Japan.

Japan has been increasingly reinforcing its military presence toward Taiwan Island in recent years, accelerating the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces in the southwest region. In fact, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force began setting up a garrison on Yonaguni Island in 2016, established bases on Amami Oshima and Miyako Islands in 2019, and opened a garrison on Ishigaki Island in 2023. Now, it plans to deploy new missile units on Yonaguni Island by 2030.

Taiwan is an internal affair of China. However, High City Hayato uses the so-called "Taiwan Strait incident" as a pretext for "Japan's survival situation," attempting to pave the way for military intervention. Meanwhile, right-wing Japanese media hype the so-called three major strategic values of Taiwan, including its proximity in geographical location, maritime traffic lifelines, and Japan's economic lifeline. If Taiwan were controlled by mainland China, the strait would be restricted, and Japan's economy would be impacted. Such statements all aim to find an excuse for intervening in the Taiwan Strait.

In other words, Japan's recent plan to deploy military forces on Yonaguni Island is not an isolated event, but a key part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen its military presence in the Southwest Islands and accelerate the "military normalization" to target China. From increasing military power on Yonaguni Island to gradually strengthening deployments on islands such as Amami, Miyako, and Ishigaki, the intent to directly target the Taiwan Strait has long been evident. The fallacy of "Taiwan's affairs are Japan's affairs" put forward by High City and others is precisely an excuse for this dangerous military expansion.

Regarding High City's failure to reflect and the Japanese defense minister's declaration that the new missile units will be deployed on Yonaguni Island by 2030, China has decisively taken a combination of diplomatic warnings and economic sanctions, clearly drawing red lines and safeguarding sovereignty, demonstrating a firm will and strong capability to protect national core interests.

Firstly, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced today (24th) that 20 Japanese entities involved in enhancing Japan's military strength, including Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., have been added to the export control list. Additionally, another 20 Japanese entities unable to verify the final use of dual-use items have been placed on a watchlist.

The 20 companies included in the export control list include: Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aerospace Engine Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine and Turbocharger Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Maritime Systems Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Systems Company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Gifu Engineering Co., Ltd., Fujitsu Defense and National Security Co., Ltd., IHI Prime Mover Co., Ltd., IHI Main Metal Co., Ltd., IHI Jet Service Co., Ltd., IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd., IHI Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd., IHI Aerospace Engineering Co., Ltd., NEC Network and Sensor Systems Co., Ltd., NEC Aerospace and Space Systems Co., Ltd., Japan Marine United Co., Ltd., JMU Defense Systems Co., Ltd., the National Defense Academy, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

This list can be described as "precision targeting," directly hitting the heart of Japan's military-industrial complex. Mitsubishi and Kawasaki are backbone enterprises for the development and production of naval and air self-defense force equipment, IHI is a major manufacturer of aircraft engines, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency leads space military technology.

Imposing export controls on them means restricting the potential development of certain sectors of Japan's military industry at the level of key components, technology, and supply chains. This sanction is not a generalized economic confrontation but a precise surgical strike against specific actors that threaten China's sovereignty and security, carrying significant deterrence and warning significance, clearly conveying the message that "those who play with fire will pay the price."

On the previous day, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, reiterated the bottom line and red lines. He said, "If Japan genuinely wants to develop the strategic mutual benefit relationship with China, it should withdraw High City's erroneous remarks regarding Taiwan, abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments, and demonstrate basic sincerity through concrete actions to maintain the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations."

On February 18, Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong, the permanent representative of China to the United Nations, delivered a speech at the general debate of the Special Committee on the UN Charter and Strengthening the Role of the United Nations in 2026, emphasizing that any excuse for Japan to exercise "collective self-defense rights" to intervene in the Taiwan issue would constitute an act of aggression against China, and China would certainly strike back hard. This statement elevated the nature of Japan's possible military adventurism to the level of "aggression," issuing the most severe legal and political warning at the highest multilateral forum.

China's series of responses indicate that there is no room for compromise or retreat on issues concerning the core interests of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. If Japan misjudges the situation and attempts to follow external forces, using the Taiwan issue as a "cash machine" and a "tool" for geopolitical games, it is clearly miscalculating. History has already proven that any external force intervening in the Taiwan issue in any form is destined to fail. China's current comprehensive national strength and defense capabilities are sufficient to crush any separatist plots and external interventions.

The so-called premise of "Taiwan's affairs" is a pseudo-proposition. If Japan insists on creating incidents or even recklessly intervenes militarily, it will inevitably become "Japan's affairs."

Japanese Prime Minister Nomination Election

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857992591888524/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.