The situation in the Taiwan Strait is tense. Japanese media have reported that Japanese overseas Chinese in Taiwan have begun to rehearse relevant countermeasures in the event of a conflict between the two sides of the strait. Former Japanese Defense Minister and Liberal Democratic Party Rep. Shigeru Shigeru said yesterday that the formulation of the evacuation plan is the country’s responsibility for the protection of its citizens, and it is hoped that relevant discussions will be held within the Liberal Democratic Party.
In an interview with the media shortly after taking office last year, Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng said that if there is an “emergency” in Taiwan, the Japanese government’s response will of course include the evacuation of the Japanese, but given the nature of the matter, the specific content will not be explained.
The Japanese media “Kyodo News” has reported that because Japan does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, if an “emergency” occurs, the evacuation of overseas Chinese will be restricted. Therefore, Japanese-funded companies and private Japanese-Chinese groups assumed the worst “responsibility” situation and began to practice contact and contingency measures on their own.
The “Meeting of Japanese Parliamentarians Thinking about Japan’s Security and Safety”, which was composed of Japanese parliamentarians from different parties, held a press conference yesterday. The head of the delegation, Shigeru Ishiba, said that the formulation of the evacuation plan is the country’s responsibility for the protection of its citizens, and the government is duty-bound. “It hasn’t happened yet, and I still don’t know what Taiwan’s position with Japan is on many issues. For example, should we evacuate overseas Chinese from airports or ports? Who will guide the evacuation? And whether the Self-Defense Forces can be used?
Ishi Pomo pointed out that the evacuation of overseas Chinese must be simulated drills. It is boring if only Japan conducts the drills unilaterally, and it must also cooperate with Taiwan. He emphasized that there are many Japanese expatriates in Taiwan, and they must take the main responsibility for the bridge evacuation. At the same time, they must also negotiate with other countries. If there are vacancies, whether people from other countries can be allowed to evacuate, these are all things that can be discussed within the Liberal Democratic Party.
According to the statistics of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, a Japanese agency in Taiwan, the maximum number of Japanese overseas Chinese in Taiwan, including short-term stays, is about 20,000. The Japan Association for International Relations calls on Japanese who have stayed in Taiwan for more than three months to register in order to establish a network of contacts. Regarding the evacuation of overseas Chinese, it is “basically relying on their own efforts.”
Regarding the statement by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that “there is something in Taiwan equals something in Japan”, Shigeru Ishiba said that this sentence seems to be a jingle now, but he has to think about it further, “What kind of situation can be considered an issue in Taiwan? How can it cause something in Japan? And what kind of legal provisions do we need to deal with the situation.”
Regarding the issue of Taiwan-Japan security cooperation, Shi Pomao believes that it cannot stay at the level of “empathy”, and now it is necessary to formulate specific policies and laws. Unlike the United States, which has the Taiwan Relations Act and the “Six Guarantees” for Taiwan, Japan can only try its best to use unofficial channels in the absence of security alliances and diplomatic relations.