A Japanese warship has made history by sailing through the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland for the first time, as reported by local media. The Sazanami, a destroyer from the Maritime Self-Defense Force, transited the strait from north to south on Wednesday en route to participate in multilateral exercises in the South China Sea.
The Japanese vessel was joined by navy ships from Australia and New Zealand, further showcasing a collaborative military presence in the region. This event follows Germany’s recent transit of two warships through the strait, aimed at demonstrating its commitment to freedom of navigation, which elicited a strong response from China.
Neither the defense ministries of Japan nor Taiwan have issued statements regarding the passage of the Sazanami. Chinese state media reported that the military conducted continuous tracking and monitoring of the vessels, asserting control over the situation.
The Taiwan Strait, a critical shipping and trade route, is considered international waters by the United States and Taiwan, allowing access to all naval vessels. However, China claims sovereignty over the strait, viewing self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory.
Experts note that Japan’s action aligns with a broader trend of increased naval activity by countries concerned about China’s maritime ambitions. Analysts highlight that Japan has been addressing China’s ‘grey zone’ tactics in the East China Sea.
Washington and its allies have been intensifying their naval transits through the Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international thoroughfare. China previously accused Germany of heightening security risks for navigating through the strait, but Berlin maintained that it adhered to international norms. This marked the first German naval vessel to traverse the strait in 22 years.
In addition to Germany and Japan, Canada, Australia, and the UK have also deployed warships through the strait in recent years. Recently, Japan has reported an uptick in Chinese military activities near its waters and around Taiwan. Notably, Beijing dispatched an aircraft carrier near two Japanese islands for the first time and a Chinese spy plane violated Japanese airspace, prompting strong condemnation from Tokyo.
In a related development, leaders of the Quad nations—Japan, Australia, India, and the US—announced plans to enhance cooperation on maritime security in response to China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
