The Development of Japan–Taiwan Security Relations in Response to the Growing Chinese Threat

This thesis explores the evolution of Japan’s security discourse in the context of China’s growing power and increasing tensions in East Asia. The primary objective is to analyze how the Japanese government frames the Chinese threat through strategic narratives and how this discourse has shifted between 2018 and 2024 in response to changes in the regional security environment, particularly with regard to Taiwan and cooperation with the United States. The research draws on the theory of balance of threat, which provides a conceptual framework for interpreting discursive shifts as reactions to perceived threats. Methodologically, the study employs qualitative content analysis of official government documents, especially the annual Defense of Japan white papers. The findings demonstrate a gradual shift from cautious rhetoric to more explicit positioning against China, increased salience of Taiwan, and a firmer alignment of Japan with the United States and its democratic allies. Moreover, the analysis shows that discursive changes are not merely passive responses to external developments, but also serve to legitimize internal changes in Japan’s security policy.