Japan and Taiwan conduct first joint maritime drill amid rising tensions with China.

According to information published by Voice of America on July 22, 2024, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, confirmed that the Japan Coast Guard and Taiwan Coast Guard conducted a joint exercise off Japan's eastern coast the previous day. This marks the first known joint exercise between the two parties. Experts suggest this cooperation completes the regional effort to counter China's "grey zone" tactics.
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Taiwanese Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessel Chiayi. (Picture source: Taiwanese government)

China has increasingly deployed coast guard vessels to challenge neighboring countries in disputed waters. Recently, four Chinese coast guard ships equipped with autocannons were sighted near the Senkaku Islands, marking the 213th consecutive day of such incursions this year.

These activities follow a similar pattern of harassment around Taiwan's outlying islands, with Chinese coast guard ships frequently intruding into restricted waters near Kinmen and Penghu.

Despite China's regular incursions, both Japan and Taiwan have affirmed the necessity of their joint drills. On July 17, Taiwan's 1,000-ton patrol vessel "Patrol 9" and Japan's "Sagami" patrol ship conducted maritime rescue training south of the Boso Peninsula and near Izu Oshima Island.

The exercises, aimed at improving coordination through information sharing and search area division, were a practical application of a 2017 memorandum on maritime search and rescue cooperation.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated China's firm opposition and urged Japan to adhere to the "One China Principle," demanding that Japan correct its mistakes and refrain from supporting Taiwanese independence movements.

Experts believe the joint exercises between Japan and Taiwan are crucial for regional stability. Shen Ming-shih, Director of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei, highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation, suggesting that the Japan-Taiwan partnership strengthens the regional maritime defense framework, which already includes frequent joint exercises among the US, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia.

Despite not having formal diplomatic ties, Japan and Taiwan have maintained practical exchanges through their respective associations. This joint drill, following the 2017 memorandum.