How Tokyo is widening regional defence ties to complicate Beijing’s Taiwan calculus
Japan is strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific and beyond to bolster its ability to withstand a prolonged armed conflict, with the risk of a conflict over Taiwan shaping its defence planning. Tokyo is deepening cooperation with Australia, including defence planning, advanced weapons development, and warship construction, while also connecting regional military ties with defence-industrial and technological partnerships in North America and Europe. The United States remains Japan's only treaty ally, and Tokyo is looking to other countries to complement that relationship.
Why it matters: This relates to the theme of strategic competition, as Japan's expanding defence network is aimed at complicating Beijing's calculus regarding Taiwan.