A Bloomberg columnist has said that Japan may be preparing for war with China. According to Hal Brands, a forceful takeover of Taiwan by official Beijing would have disastrous consequences for Japan.

If Taiwan falls, the islands at the far southwestern end of Japan could be unprotected. China could block Japan's vital trade routes, increase pressure around the disputed Senkaku Islands, or otherwise put pressure on its historic adversary, the columnist said.

He noted that for the U.S., China is a dangerous but distant challenge. Japan, on the other hand, has for years been neighboring a state that could pose an existential threat to the country. It is for this reason, Brandes believes, that Japan, already a serious regional military power, is moving quickly to strengthen its deterrence and defense capabilities.

Japan plans to nearly double its defense spending by 2027. It is turning some southwestern islands into strongholds dotted with anti-ship missiles and air defense assets. Tokyo reportedly has plans to use its high-quality submarine fleet to thwart the Chinese fleet. Japan is also moving toward acquiring U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles and other anti-strike capabilities that could target mainland China, the Bloomberg columnist noted.

He criticized Washington for ignoring the interests of its strategic partner in the region.

According to him, while Tokyo prefers containment without provocation, the U.S. periodically practices provocation without containment. All of this leads to Japan's rapid militarization, which could be evidence of preparations for a military confrontation.