Taiwan Strait Impacts the Globe: Former NZ Official Says It Concerns the Resilience of Democracies
Reuben Steff, a former NZ diplomat, argues that stability in the Taiwan Strait dictates global strategy. He urges Australia and Japan to deepen their security and military industry cooperation beyond symbolic alliances to ensure the resilience of democracies.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 21:52
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(Central News Agency, Sydney, 23rd) Reuben Steff, a former official of New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, recently told a CNA reporter that because the situation in the Taiwan Strait has the power to shift global strategic dynamics, democratic countries such as Australia, Japan, and the European Union must recognize that this is not just a Taiwan issue, but a matter concerning the survival resilience of multiple democracies.
Reuben Steff, former New Zealand diplomat and currently an assistant professor at Mendel University in the Czech Republic, published an article on the 16th through the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) titled "Hormuz, Taiwan, and the Case for Australia-Japan Security Cooperation."
He pointed out that just as the Strait of Hormuz has the capacity to influence global affairs, the safety of Taiwan, which has long been under the threat of China's military force, will equally compel neighboring countries to reorganize their security strategies.
In his article, Steff mentioned that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has caused fuel security issues for Australia and Japan. Coupled with the United States' focus on the war in the Middle East, it is difficult to simultaneously attend to the Taiwan Strait. Therefore, security cooperation between Australia and Japan must transcend mere ally status; they need to propose specific cooperative measures aimed at enhancing survival resilience, industrial capacity, and the joint deployment of combat readiness.
Responding to CNA's questions via email, Steff noted that to prevent instability in the Taiwan Strait, Australia and Japan should not merely maintain their cooperation at the level of a "Special Strategic Partnership."
He believes that Australia and Japan must transition from a symbolic alliance to actual combat deployment cooperation. The two countries should jointly develop detailed contingency plans and institutionalize them, covering various scenarios ranging from situations short of full-scale war to potential regional crises. "For example, contingency plans should be drawn up for shipping disruptions, fuel shortages, cyberattacks, missile strikes on military bases in the region, evacuation operations, and supply chain interruptions."
Steff noted that Australia and Japan should further formulate specific military cooperation plans based on the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). "The next step is to seriously plan as soon as possible on how the two countries will divide responsibilities in logistics, access, base construction, and maintenance in response to potential contingencies in Taiwan."
Steff reminded that Australia and Japan must strengthen the resilience of their military industrial capacity to effectively prevent China from undermining stability in the Taiwan Strait. Currently, the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) independently developed by Australia, and the joint Australia-Japan "Mogami-class frigate" project are important related measures. The two countries should subsequently conduct joint R&D and production more broadly in terms of ammunition, naval vessel maintenance, repairs, and dual-use technologies.
Steff also stated that Australia and Japan need to expand cooperation in energy and minerals. Fuel, shipping, and critical minerals should all be viewed as issues of strategic stockpiling, rather than just matters of market demand.
In addition, Steff previously published an article titled "Taiwan's Growing Strategic Risk: Why Czech Industry Should Stay Alert," pointing out that as Taiwan is a vital part of the EU's high-tech industry supply chain, the situation in the Taiwan Strait is inevitably linked to the capacity resilience of the EU's high-tech industry, having a significant impact on related industries in Germany and the Czech Republic.
He noted that the Taiwan Strait situation is by no means limited to Asian affairs; instability in one region is bound to rapidly reshape the strategic landscape of another.
Reuben Steff, former New Zealand diplomat and currently an assistant professor at Mendel University in the Czech Republic, published an article on the 16th through the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) titled "Hormuz, Taiwan, and the Case for Australia-Japan Security Cooperation."
He pointed out that just as the Strait of Hormuz has the capacity to influence global affairs, the safety of Taiwan, which has long been under the threat of China's military force, will equally compel neighboring countries to reorganize their security strategies.
In his article, Steff mentioned that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has caused fuel security issues for Australia and Japan. Coupled with the United States' focus on the war in the Middle East, it is difficult to simultaneously attend to the Taiwan Strait. Therefore, security cooperation between Australia and Japan must transcend mere ally status; they need to propose specific cooperative measures aimed at enhancing survival resilience, industrial capacity, and the joint deployment of combat readiness.
Responding to CNA's questions via email, Steff noted that to prevent instability in the Taiwan Strait, Australia and Japan should not merely maintain their cooperation at the level of a "Special Strategic Partnership."
He believes that Australia and Japan must transition from a symbolic alliance to actual combat deployment cooperation. The two countries should jointly develop detailed contingency plans and institutionalize them, covering various scenarios ranging from situations short of full-scale war to potential regional crises. "For example, contingency plans should be drawn up for shipping disruptions, fuel shortages, cyberattacks, missile strikes on military bases in the region, evacuation operations, and supply chain interruptions."
Steff noted that Australia and Japan should further formulate specific military cooperation plans based on the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). "The next step is to seriously plan as soon as possible on how the two countries will divide responsibilities in logistics, access, base construction, and maintenance in response to potential contingencies in Taiwan."
Steff reminded that Australia and Japan must strengthen the resilience of their military industrial capacity to effectively prevent China from undermining stability in the Taiwan Strait. Currently, the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) independently developed by Australia, and the joint Australia-Japan "Mogami-class frigate" project are important related measures. The two countries should subsequently conduct joint R&D and production more broadly in terms of ammunition, naval vessel maintenance, repairs, and dual-use technologies.
Steff also stated that Australia and Japan need to expand cooperation in energy and minerals. Fuel, shipping, and critical minerals should all be viewed as issues of strategic stockpiling, rather than just matters of market demand.
In addition, Steff previously published an article titled "Taiwan's Growing Strategic Risk: Why Czech Industry Should Stay Alert," pointing out that as Taiwan is a vital part of the EU's high-tech industry supply chain, the situation in the Taiwan Strait is inevitably linked to the capacity resilience of the EU's high-tech industry, having a significant impact on related industries in Germany and the Czech Republic.
He noted that the Taiwan Strait situation is by no means limited to Asian affairs; instability in one region is bound to rapidly reshape the strategic landscape of another.