Japan's internal consensus: Sink the Fujian warship if necessary

 Direct translation

Japan's internal consensus revealed: Sinking the Fujian warship in one fell swoop

—Yesterday, Japan publicly issued a challenge, stating that it would sink the Fujian warship if necessary.

Reporter : Wang Duruo / Editor: Fang Xun / https://www.aboluowang.com/2025/1120/2308119.html / Image : Web Screenshot

Taiwanese media outlet Newtalk reported on 18 November 2025 that Japan's Sankei Shimbun revealed shocking news: if war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait and the Chinese aircraft carrier "Fujian" obstructs US intervention, the Japanese Ministry of Defense will cooperate with the US military to "directly sink it."

This is the first time that Japanese media has relayed an internal consensus among officials, explicitly naming the "Fujian" as a target that must be destroyed, symbolizing Japan formally drawing a red line against war with China.

Previously, Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had emphasized in the Diet that "a major conflict in Taiwan would constitute a crisis of survival for Japan."

This disclosure by the Sankei Shimbun is equivalent to upgrading Japan's policy from "will intervene" to: "will fire first if necessary"—an unprecedented strategic deterrent against Beijing.

Commentator Chen Jing, analyzing on "Vision China," points out that Japan's declaration carries three profound strategic implications:

First: A crisis in Taiwan equals a life-or-death situation for Japan

If Taiwan is blockaded, Japan's energy shipping routes will be disrupted, food imports will be hindered, and Kyushu will be directly exposed to the range of Chinese missiles. This is not merely geopolitics, but a matter of national survival for Japan.

Second: Clearly designating the "Fujian warship" as the primary target

Japan is not merely discussing a "Taiwan Strait conflict," but has clearly stated its military assessment: if the Fujian warship blocks the Taiwan Strait, Japan will be the first to destroy it. This is not diplomatic rhetoric, but a practical war plan.

Third: Japan accepts the necessity of intervention "in the first minute of war."

Less than two weeks after Kaohsiung took office, Japan's national security framework is undergoing rapid restructuring: the expansion of collective self-defense rights, increased military spending, militarization of the southwestern island chain, and full synchronization of US-Japan joint operational plans. Japan is shifting towards "preemptive" defense.

U.S. military leaders simultaneously stated: This is a shared US-Japan position

On the same day, when asked about Japan's stance on the "existential crisis" in Tokyo, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Darryl Caudle bluntly stated:

"I'm not surprised at all; this was entirely within my expectations."

This statement is tantamount to openly telling Beijing:

The sinking of the Fujian warship is not a unilateral action by Japan, but a joint U.S.-Japan strategy.

Caudle then added: "Japan has increased its military spending to 2% of GDP; this is not the ceiling."

The U.S. is clearly pushing Japan to further arm itself, directly blocking Beijing's strategic space for military adventurism towards Taiwan.