“Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stoked concern in Tokyo that military powerhouse China — with its eye on democratic Taiwan — could take a page from Moscow’s playbook and invade the island that it claims as its own. Meanwhile, North Korea’s participation on Russia’s side in the conflict has added yet another link to Asia, as Pyongyang gains critical battlefield experience along with access to advanced weaponry.
Top Japanese government officials, including Ishiba, have linked the security of Europe to that of the Indo-Pacific region, saying that “Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow.”
