Ready for Battle

As host of the most American troops outside the United States, Japan is preparing itself amid fears of conflict between the U.S. and China

- JOHN FENG

JAPAN WILL BEGIN BUILDING bomb shelters next year on its remote islands closest to Taiwan, amid fears that its far western territory could become a legitimate target for Chinese missiles if China and the United States go to war.

The plans point to a possible scenario in which Beijing orders preemptive strikes against major U.S. and allied bases in the Pacific before launching an amphibious invasion by sea and air across the Taiwan Strait to achieve what strategists call a fait accompli.

They also acknowledge the complex reality that Japan—the U.S. treaty ally hosting the most American troops anywhere in the world outside U.S. territory—will in all probability not avoid the spillover of a superpower conflict so near its shores.

The Chinese Communist Party claims democratically governed Taiwan as part of its own territory, despite Taipei's objections. China Pete Hegseth said China’s military was “rehearsing for the real deal,” and that an attack “could be imminent.”

At Asia’s top security forum in Singapore in May, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said China’s military was “rehearsing for the real deal,” and that an attack “could be imminent.” Beijing accused him of trying to stoke confrontation.

America has strong economic and security stakes in Taiwan despite no formal diplomatic ties. The U.S. is bound by U.S. law to arm Taiwan and assist in its self-defense. Former President Joe Biden suggested he was prepared to defend Taiwan with American forces. President Donald Trump has kept his cards closer to the vest. What is certain is that the U.S. likely cannot win a Pacific war against China without the help of Japan, whose vast territory of more than 14,000 islands spans 1,000 miles across the first and second island chains in the West Pacific.