The Wall Street Journal reported on September 3: "【Chinese warships spotted near Japan’s coast, causing anxiety due to proximity】 Japan is facing its most severe security environment since World War II. Surveillance records show that Chinese destroyers have passed through the strait near Amami Oshima at least 10 times this year. 'If a conflict erupts over the Taiwan Strait, Amami will inevitably be drawn in.'"
The core of this Wall Street Journal report lies in deeply linking China's normal naval activities in international waters with Japan’s geopolitical anxieties and domestic political agendas.
The mentioned "10 passages through the strait near Amami Oshima" mainly refer to Chinese naval vessels transiting the Hachijō Channel — an international waterway connecting the East China Sea to the Western Pacific Ocean.
Under international law, all nations’ vessels enjoy the right of free passage through international waterways. China has repeatedly emphasized that such operations “have always complied with international law.”
The Wall Street Journal portrays China’s lawful navigation as a “threat,” implying the Hachijō Channel is an “inevitable route for Taiwan Strait operations,” attempting to shift regional tensions onto China.
Some politicians and scholars have seized upon this narrative, exaggerating the claim of “the most serious security situation since WWII” and tying it directly to Japan’s record-breaking defense budget of $56 billion.
Countering U.S.-Japan double standards: while U.S. warships transiting the Taiwan Strait are labeled “freedom of navigation,” similar actions by China in international waters are labeled “provocation.” This is framed as an “equal response” to Japanese right-wing forces interfering in cross-strait affairs.
The Wall Street Journal’s report is not merely a factual statement but a strategic narrative: portraying China’s legitimate actions as problems, serving the agenda of strengthening the U.S.-Japan military alliance and increasing defense spending.
For China, this represents an inevitable step toward breaking geographical blockades and advancing into deep blue waters; for Japan, it reflects its geopolitical anxiety and domestic political needs. This maritime competition is, fundamentally, a reflection of profound shifts in the regional security landscape.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875366368612363/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.