This is CBS High on the World.

I'm John Baxter, welcoming my colleague Grant Newsham,

Colonel United States Marine Corps retired, author of When China Attacks,

looking at a significant piece of the defense of China

in the event of the launch of an attack on Taiwan and the whole region of the

South China Sea. That significant event is a white paper issued by the government of Japan for

2025. And what is in it and what can be expected to be in it, given that Japan's contribution to

defense is profound for East Asia. Its relationship to the United States and the U.S. Navy is

profound given that the U.S. Navy bases a carrier battle group in Japan and that Japan represents the yards that are most

accessible in the event of conflict in East Asia. Grant, a very good evening to you. I go

immediately to the part where the most vulnerable East Asian state of Taiwan.

What do you anticipate in this paper about Taiwan,

given that previous governments have stated that they will fight for it?

Good evening to you.

Good evening, John.

Well, I expect that Taiwan will get a mention

because this white paper always very, very well describes the threats

facing Japan. And it'll mention China's, excuse me, Taiwan is an area of real concern and particularly

concerns over the Chinese action activities around Taiwan. But then if you read the rest of the

paper, I'll bet that it doesn't say

much at all about what Japan is going to actually do in the event of a fight over Taiwan.

It won't even have, I think, some specific hardware and capabilities mentioned that they would

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