World on Edge: Taiwan Tensions Between China and Japan Could Spark Third World War, Experts Warn

Taiwan has long been claimed by China as its territory. Recently, the Japanese Prime Minister suggested the possibility of military action concerning Taiwan, sparking outrage in Beijing.

The escalating tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan have now reached alarming levels. Experts warn that a single misstep between these two economic giants in Asia could trigger a military confrontation, potentially spiraling into a global conflict.

According to The Sun, experts have highlighted that the current verbal exchanges between Chinese and Japanese leaders reflect a dangerous security situation in the region. Professor Ashok Swain of Uppsala University told The Sun, “While the chances of an all-out war are low, the situation could deteriorate unexpectedly.”

Taiwan at the Center
Military analyst Philip Ingram noted that Japan is actively strengthening its defense capabilities in the region—a move it has not undertaken since World War II. China, already heavily investing in its military, maintains a firm stance on Taiwan.

Professor Swain outlined three scenarios that could trigger a direct military confrontation between China and Japan:

1. Air or Naval Clashes: Encounters between fighter jets or warships could escalate into broader hostilities. Once military engagement begins, it becomes nearly impossible to control the situation without political intervention.
2. Misunderstandings or Accidents: Even minor errors, such as a pilot straying into restricted airspace, could provoke a military response. History offers a precedent in the 1937 Marco Polo Bridge incident, which sparked the Second Sino-Japanese War.
3. Weapons Deployment Near Taiwan: Any Japanese deployment of weapons close to or on Taiwan would cross China’s “red line,” prompting an immediate military response.

Global Implications
Should conflict break out, the U.S. would be drawn in first due to the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, which obliges Washington to defend Tokyo. The U.S. maintains substantial military forces and facilities on Japanese soil.

Additionally, Russia and China share a strategic partnership, though not a formal NATO-style defense agreement. Experts suggest that Russia could assist China, with President Vladimir Putin possibly using the opportunity to launch actions in Europe. Iran and North Korea may also support the China-Russia axis, raising the alarming possibility of this regional conflict evolving into a Third World War.