First Time in Its History, Japan Sends Warship Through the Taiwan Strait
On September 25, the Japanese Destroyer JS Sazanami (DD-113) sailed through the Taiwan Strait as part of a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP). It’s a historic moment for Japan and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF); no Japanese combat ship has ever sailed through the strategic strait since the end of World War II.
Japan has been moving away from its strictly pacifistic defense policy for many years now; and the decision to join the FONOP club can easily be seen as part of fundamental shift in national strategy that has been happening for over a decade. The Japanese defense budget is rapidly expanding, the JSDF has become increasingly integrated and interoperable with US forces, the definition of permissible “self-defense” has been broadened to include collective defense, defense export rules are easing, defense cooperation in Asia and with NATO has been increased substantially, and substantial reforms have been made to Japan’s national security institutions. The shift is so substantial, that some experts like Michael J. Green have declared the Yoshida doctrine (the basic strategy guiding Japanese foreign policy since the early Cold War) dead and replaced by a new “Abe Doctrine”.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaleb R. Staples)
However, JS Sazanami’s voyage has more than just symbolic importance. First of all, it signals to China and Japan’s allies that Japan is serious about its more forward defense policy. It’s not just empty words about defending the liberal international order; Japan is really willing to put its sailors in harms way. It makes Japan coming to the defense of Taiwan seem more credible. Second of all, it acts as a response to Chinese incursions into Japanese and Taiwanese waters and airspace. Thirdly, it reinforces Japan’s ties to its friends and allies and demonstrates readiness to act in concert with them. The JS Sazanami was enroute to a multilateral exercise involving Australia and New Zealand. Official releases from the two states confirmed that their ships had also sailed through the Taiwan Strait on the same day. It’s very unlikely that the timing is a coincidence.
New Zealand’s dispatch of a vessel through the Taiwan Strait is also noteworthy as the last time the Kiwis participated in a FONOP west of Taiwan was 2017. “The New Zealand Defence Force conducts all activities in accordance with international law and best practice,” commented New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins.