Working Paper（24-014E）Geopolitics around Taiwan and three Proposals for Japan's Energy Policy

For the first time in her history, China, historically a land power, is strengthening its regional presence at sea. Her hard-liner stance, such as occupation of the Spratly Islands, has raised anti-Chinese sentiment in the region, and the group of sea power nations along the first island chain is strengthening its defense system. Now that China is poised to unify Taiwan as her historical inevitability, there is a growing possibility that it will actually use force within the next few years. To counter Chinese military expansion, Japan has decided to strengthen its military power. I suggest, in addition to this, a drastic enhancement of energy security is an urgent issue. I offer three proposals for Japan: 1) reinforce energy stockpiling and infrastructure defense, 2) strengthen oil and gas imports from the U.S., and 3) revise the self-defeating zero carbon policy.