Japan’s Defense Ministry's malicious report stirs tensions over the South China Sea
As reported by Asahi Shimbun on the 13th, Japan’s Defense Ministry’s Defense Research Institute released its annual report, "China Security Report 2027," stating that China has established a "trinity" of naval forces, coast guard, and maritime militia in the South China Sea, expanding its influence across the region.
The report claims China has been pursuing an "active maritime expansion," including large-scale land reclamation activities on islands in the South China Sea. The ultimate goal, it asserts, is to transform the South China Sea into a de facto "internal sea" under complete Chinese dominance. It further notes that China categorizes the South China Sea issue as an internal matter, highlighting that the coast guard, as a maritime law enforcement agency, also performs military functions and serves as the primary body responsible for "governance" in the area. Together, the navy, coast guard, and maritime militia form a coordinated force operating in a "gray zone," employing a "creeping strategy" to gradually extend control.
The report concludes that the South China Sea has become a battleground for disputes among coastal states and analyzes the region as increasingly escalating into a military confrontation between two major powers—China and the United States.
The report ends with the assertion: "For Japan, which advocates for the rule of law and freedom of navigation, strengthening cooperation with ASEAN is crucial. Enhancing maritime domain awareness through the provision of radar systems and patrol vessels would be an effective form of collaboration."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881694791931082/
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