Over half of major Japanese firms said they are prepared or are making preparations for a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan amid Beijing's growing military assertiveness, a Kyodo News survey showed Saturday.
Of the 114 companies surveyed between late November and mid-December last year, 53 percent said they had concrete measures in place for a potential Taiwan contingency, including drafting manuals, planning evacuations, and stockpiling inventory.
Another 12 percent said they did not have plans but saw the need for consideration, according to the survey, which covered a range of industries and included companies such as Toyota Motor Corp and ANA Holdings Inc.
The survey results highlighted how growing tensions between China and Taiwan are seen as a high-risk factor in running businesses.
Communist-ruled China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split due to a civil war in 1949. Beijing views the self-ruled island as a renegade province that is to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Toshiya Tsugami of the Japan Institute of International Affairs praised the firms for their preparations but expressed concern that some may decide to "take excessive actions, such as withdrawing from Taiwan."
China and Taiwan are critical to Japan's supply chain and are also key markets for Japanese companies' products and services. According to the survey, 54 percent of firms said heightened tensions between the two had a significant or moderate impact on their business.
In a multiple-choice questionnaire on firms' top concerns, 53 percent cited a halt in sea and air shipments, while 48 percent pointed to instability in the semiconductor supply chain.
When asked about a potential invasion, 22 percent said it was likely or very likely, while only 3 percent said it was unlikely. The majority, 46 percent, said they were unsure.
When asked whether Japan should step up diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between China and Taiwan and prevent an invasion, 35 percent responded affirmatively, 7 percent said Japan had already done enough and 20 percent said they did not know.
© KYODO
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JJE
Important to observe Taiwan province is a non-UN recognized separatist entity. That should be on page one of their 'manual'.
Fighto!
Better to be safe than sorry, and prepare for such an event.
Surely the CCP are not that stupid that they would attack and attempt to invade free Taiwan. It would be an absolute catastrophe for Communist China and the death toll horrendous, even if they did manage to take some land. As well as an economic disaster.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Important to observe that Taiwan has more recognition than russia's disgraces.
TaiwanIsNotChina
I don't know how you separate from yourself but that is the apologist for you.
OssanAmerica
China spreading love and understanding, as usual. lol
JJE
Relevant to consider the peaceful reunification of HK and Macau as a precedent, widely considered to be a positive success. Hopefully those templates, which are smashing successes, can be replicated here when the inevitable occurs.
Then there will be no need for 'contingency' measures. Beijing is on the right side of international law when it comes to considering the UN Charter etc doesn't apply to separatist provinces.
Facilitating a peaceful transfer is in everyone's interests. Tokyo could really reverse their geopolitical-diplomatic impotence in Asia by taking the lead on such a common sense initiative.
OKuniyoshi
"to prevent an invasion", its very simple. Don't stir ..../don't instigate/etc. The people across the Straits themselves don't want to fight each other.