Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida warned on Thursday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might presage similar events in Taiwan unless Japan and its Indo-Pacific allies respond to a crisis on the self-governing island in a unified manner.

Speaking through a translator at a meeting in London, Kishida, previously Japan’s foreign minister, argued that the “Group of Seven” (G7) nations—consisting of Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany—needed to establish a clear commitment to unity in Asian affairs.

“Collaboration among countries sharing universal values becomes ever more vital,” Kishida said. “We must collaborate with our allies and like-minded countries, and never tolerate a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by the use of force in the Indo-Pacific, especially in East Asia.”

“Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is critical not only for Japan’s security but also for the stability of international society,” he continued. “Japan maintains its position to expect a peaceful resolution through dialogue to issues surrounding Taiwan … and the situation will be watched carefully from that perspective.”

Taiwan has been claimed by the government of mainland China since 1949, although the government in Beijing, led by the Chinese Communist Party, has never exercised control over Taiwan. In recent years, Chinese leaders have repeatedly insisted that Beijing would gain control over the island in the coming decade, although President Xi Jinping has argued in the past that peaceful reunification, rather than conquest, is the course of action “most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation.”

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine—which began on February 24, four days after the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics—has raised concerns in Western capitals that China might take advantage of the West’s military commitments in Eastern Europe to launch a simultaneous move against Taipei. Consequently, the Taiwanese government has raised its alert level, although there have been no signs of Chinese activity that would indicate an imminent invasion.

Kishida underscored in his remarks that the G7 needed to impose costs on Russia for its invasion, which could theoretically discourage other nations from pursuing a similar course of action. He announced that an additional 140 Russians would be added to Japanese sanctions, while Russian military firms would be banned from importing goods from Japan.

Although Japan has participated in Western sanctions against Russia, most other Asian nations have not. China, Russia’s largest trading partner, has flatly refused to implement any sanctions, while South Korea, a historic adversary of Japan, has cooperated with Western sanctions but has continued to trade with Moscow.

Trevor Filseth is a current and foreign affairs writer for the National Interest. 

Image: Reuters.