What does Japan’s role in a US-Philippine military drill mean for Taiwan?

Japan’s most extensive participation to date in a counter-landing and missile defence exercise in the Philippines signals its “priorities” in deterring Beijing in a Taiwan contingency, according to analysts.

Japan’s Joint Staff announced on Tuesday that its Self-Defence Forces (SDF) would deploy about 1,400 personnel, multiple warships and aircraft, as well as Type 88 anti-ship missile systems for the Balikatan exercise, an annual large-scale joint military drill between the Philippines and the United States.

The troop deployment marks Japan’s first active participation in the Balikatan exercise, which runs from April 20 to May 8. Tokyo’s involvement this year makes it the third-largest troop contributor after the US and the Philippines.

The Japanese forces are expected to take part in exercises across air, land, sea and cyberspace, including maritime strike operations, counter-landing live-fire exercises, and integrated air and missile defence – capabilities often cited by analysts as critical in the event of a conflict across the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary.

Most countries, including the US and Japan, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.