leaders stepping back from that position, and if they did step back from that position, they d be out of a job. just south of tokyo, ships of the us seventh fleet lie at anchor next to those of its japanese ally. for decades, these ships have a guaranteed american domination of the western pacific, but not any more. russia s invasion of ukraine has highlighted two very uncomfortable truths for the united states and its allies here in asia. the first is that when china says it is determined to reunify taiwan, by force if necessary, it actually means it. the second is that if china did try and invade taiwan, despite all of the impressive naval power on display here in tokyo bay, it is not clear at all whether the united states, and its japanese allies, now have the ability to stop them. china s current military build up is unprecendented in peacetime.
acquired as it s called, those countries really dominating trade in the region through this multilateral packed it may feel, actually can t run the risk of going up against them, if it were to make moves on taiwan? , if it were to make moves on taiwan? if it were to make moves on taiwan? , . ., , taiwan? there is certainly the sense in japan taiwan? there is certainly the sense in japan there - taiwan? there is certainly the sense in japan there is - taiwan? there is certainly the sense in japan there is safety | sense injapan there is safety in numbers and the us is not the dominant global power that it once was but if you can have these four major powers plus these four major powers plus the united kingdom plus france plus perhaps germany and others, uniting to say we will support a free and open indo pacific, which is the catchphrase they use, then it will give china pause. as one analyst said to me last week, the importance of the quad can be gauged by how much it is hated by be
prime minister shinzo abe is warning that a chinese invasion of taiwan could be next. translation: a taiwan - emergency is our emergency, forjapan and for the us japan alliance. president xi jingping should not make any mistake in recognising this. taiwan is a vibrant and boisterous democracy. butjust like ukraine, is claimed by a much bigger, more powerful neighbour. i think whoever is in power in china, be it xijinping, or whomever comes after him, it is baked into the cake inside the communist party that china must get taiwan back. it s impossible to see any leaders stepping back from that position, and if they did step back from that position, they d be out of a job. just south of tokyo, ships of the us seventh fleet lie at anchor next to those of its japanese ally.
the fallout from ukraine appears set to dominate discussions, but much of the focus will be on china s territorial intentions, in particular, its claim on taiwan. many analysts believe china s massive military gives it the wherewithal to invade taiwan, and to hold off the us and its allies if they try to intervene. our correspondent, rupert wingfield hayes filed this report from tokyo. this is something that hadn t been seen for more than 70 years, a fighterjet landing on board a japanese aircraft carrier. the jet is american butjapan has a0 of them on order. this is a sleek new mogami class stealth frigate being commissioned last month. it s the first of 22. japan is quietly abandoning seven decades of pacifism, and the reason is simple china. after ukraine, japan s former
this is bbc news. welcome if you re watching here in the uk or around the globe. i m david eades. our top stories: president biden holds a meeting with emperor naruhito during his first visit to japan since taking office as the us seeks to bolster its regional influence against a dominant china. we report on howjapan is boosting its own military, amid fears of chinese aggression towards taiwan. if china did try to invade taiwan, despite all of the impressive naval power on display here in tokyo bay, it is not clear at all whether the united states and its japanese allies now have the ability to stop them. i will well and truly serve the commonwealth of australia, her land and her people in the office of prime