Yonaguni Island, Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, about 111 kilometers from Taiwan, is pictured in Yonaguni, Japan, on April 13, 2022. Japan’s southwestern islands lie close to Taiwan, and any conflict there could threaten Japan’s sea lanes, airspace, and U.S. bases on its territory. Carl Court/Getty ImagesCommentaryJapan’s strategic awakening is no longer theoretical—it’s unfolding in real time.





