On 7 November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that any Chinese blockade of Taiwan could constitute a “threat to Japan’s survival”, thereby raising the possibility of collective self-defence. This point of view, which is part of the broader framework of the security legislation from 2015, anchors Tokyo more firmly in the US strategy for defending Taiwan. China responded with diplomatic escalation, formal protests and economic measures, causing the bilateral relations to deteriorate sharply. Takaichi later nuanced her remarks, thereby revealing how vulnerable Japan is, as well as how effective China’s strategy of political and legal pressure is. This incident also highlights the limits of Japan’s capabilities, the risks of a downward spiral in the event of a regional crisis and the persisting tension between strategic ambitions and national political constraints.
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Research line: Eurasia
Source image: © JGSDF / 陸上自衛隊HP ; © Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
e-Note 90
Appel aux armes du Japon
pour la défense de Taïwan ?
Évaluation de la position
du gouvernement Takaichi