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Post by Moses on Mar 16, 2005 5:15:50 GMT -5
March 16, 2005
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Is the Empire Striking Back?
By YONG XUE
Boston — HALFWAY though the 10th paragraph of an otherwise bland statement issued last month by the United States and Japan is a historic sentence. Among the "common strategic objectives" of the two nations, it reads, is "the peaceful resolution of issues concerning the Taiwan Strait." Such language may seem mild compared with the usual diplomatic back-and-forth between China and the United States about Taiwan, like this week's contentious exchange over the Chinese Parliament's new law authorizing the use of force to stop Taiwan from becoming independent. But in the 40-plus years that Japan and America have been making announcements regarding their security concerns in East Asia, Japan has deliberately remained silent about Taiwan. With their statement last month, for the first time the two nations have taken a clear stand together. This is a mistake. The United States is right to be concerned with the growing military might of China, and America should honor its commitment to peace and democracy in the region. The United States is also right to encourage Japan to take a more assertive role in world affairs, as it has in Iraq. But there are parts of the world where Japan's history is too much of a burden, where it may not be in America's national interest to align itself with Japan too closely. East Asia is such an area.
Japan invaded China some 70 years ago, killing millions of Chinese. Despite expressions of regret, Japan has never formally apologized for these atrocities - certainly not to the satisfaction of most Chinese. Only when World War II was over, and millions of lives had been lost, did China win back Taiwan from Japan, which had annexed it in the late 19th century. Understandably, Taiwan is a very sensitive issue to China's national pride. On this issue, Japan commands no moral high ground.There is no reason for the United States to carry this historical burden for Japan. To the contrary: Americans fought with the Chinese against Japan in World War II, and the goodwill they earned among the Chinese people persists to this day. By pursuing policies toward Taiwan in concert with Japan, the United States becomes less a defender of peace and democracy and more an apologist for imperialism. At least this is how many Chinese people will perceive it. [rightly so] Even worse, America gains nothing by yielding the moral high ground. Historically, the United States has always held open the possibility of a military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Japan, meanwhile - trapped by a sense of guilt over the war and restricted by strong public sentiment against the military - has long been unwilling to take a public stand on the Taiwan issue. At the same time, Japanese-American relations have always taken priority in Japan's foreign policy. Since at least the late 1950's, the posture of the Japanese government has been clear enough: if forced to make a choice in a military confrontation over the Taiwan Strait, Japan would quietly provide aid to the United States. Last month's joint statement was not only unwise but also unnecessary.On the issue of Taiwan, the United States would be wise to deal with China alone. After all, anti-American sentiment in China is shallow. Many Chinese people continue to admire America for both its values and its political system. More practically, they also realize that China needs the United States to maintain a stable international order so its economy can continue to grow. They have benefited greatly from trade with America. They are also sophisticated enough to understand America's distrust of China's emerging power; they expect only sensible and fair leadership. The Bush administration should deal with China in a businesslike manner, without needless provocation that leaves the moderate forces within Chinese government and society little room for maneuvering. In this respect, unilateralism may be preferable to multilateralism - especially if America's partner is Japan.
For more than a half century, Japan has hidden behind two umbrellas provided by the United States. The first is a security umbrella: a lightly armed and largely nuclear-free Japan has relied on the United States for its national defense. The second is a moral one: because of its lingering guilt from the war, Japanese foreign policy can find its moral compass only by following the American lead.
These two umbrellas have well served the interests of the United States and Japan, as well as East Asia, since the end of World War II. Now the security umbrella may seem partly obsolete. But it is not a good time to fold the moral umbrella. For the United States and its allies, it can still provide shelter and comfort.
Yong Xue is an assistant professor of Asian history at Suffolk University.
Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
He doesn't mention that Koizumi offended Asia by visiting the memorial to the Japanese military dead of WWII-- and the Japanese, instead of undergoing study and self-examination as the Germans did, instead censor their textbooks and other publications to whitewash their history, and have shown no remorse. |
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Post by Moses on Mar 17, 2005 9:30:54 GMT -5
Tokyo spy flight sparks row[/size] Peter Alford, Tokyo correspondent 18mar05 JAPAN has admitted one of its reconnaissance planes was warned away from South Korean air space this week, as tensions over the disputed Dokdo islands neared boiling point. National Security Council chairman Chung Dong-young yesterday raised the temperature of the dispute by saying South Korea would increase its presence on the uninhabited outcrops, about 400km east of Seoul. The state-run Korea Gas Corp claimed surveys indicated the basin surrounding Dokdo contains large deposits of gas hydrates – semi-frozen natural gas – over which, officials suggested, Japan wants control. The Koreans, who have maintained a police post on the largest outcrop since 1954 and effectively control surrounding waters, have responded with nationalistic fury to a Japanese local government's attempt to push Tokyo into asserting its territorial claim over the group, which Japan calls Takeshima. Only hours before Wednesday's reconnaissance flight to within 16km of the islands, Shimane's prefectural assembly designated February 22, the date when Japan seized them in 1905, as Takeshima Day. A Japanese Air Self-Defence Force aircraft was warned three times by the South Korean airforce as it approached the pair of islands about midday, before turning back. "I suppose there was a misperception of facts," Japan's chief cabinet secretary Hiroyuki Hosada said yesterday. "I understand that flight missions are conducted on a routine basis." He insisted the aircraft did not stray into South Korea's air defence identification zone. The Japanese Government has so far refused Korean demands to force the Shimane assembly to withdraw its Takeshima Day ordinance. The islands were claimed by Korea in 1900, seized by Japan and incorporated into Shimane prefecture in 1905 – five years before the Japanese formally annexed all of Korea – and returned to Seoul's control after World War II. But Japan has never relinquished its claim and since 1952, when South Korea asserted its fishing rights over surrounding waters, there have been frequent, occasionally fatal, clashes between Japanese fishermen and Korean coastguards. Shimane assemblymen say the dispute has been caused by the unlawful exclusion of local fishermen. Under a 1990 treaty, Japan and South Korea agreed Dokdo would be excluded from both their exclusive economic zones, although some suspect that the assembly's actions have been provoked by nationalist elements in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. There have been several demonstrations against Japan in Seoul this week, but a LDP official in Shimane told The Australian the assembly's move was not intended to provoke South Korea. "Our action is not aimed at the Korean people. It is aimed at government in Tokyo, which has claimed the islands for more than 50 years but has not taken its duties seriously. The Government has repeatedly said those islands belong to Japan, but they have not moved to take control."
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Post by Moses on Mar 17, 2005 9:40:10 GMT -5
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/17/content_2711409.htmSEOUL, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korea said Thursday it will not tolerate Japan challenging its territorial sovereignty or distorting their shared history, labeling such moves as amounting to "justifying its past invasion" of the Korean Peninsula. The remarks were made in a strong-worded statement issued by the South Korean National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday afternoon after it convened a meeting to discuss South Korean new principles in dealing with relations with Japan. The meeting was called one day after a Japanese provincial assembly passed an ordinance, which aimed at promoting Japan's claim to Dokdo, a chain of disputed islets located in the East Sea(Sea of Japan), which Japan calls "Takeshima". The NSC is an administrative body under the direct leadership of South Korean president. South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young currently doubles chairman of the NSC's standing committee. "We will take measures to firmly defend our sovereignty over Dokdo," Chung read the statement at a press conference Thursday. "A recent series of Japanese actions force us to fundamentally doubt whether Japan has an intention to co-exist with its neighbors as a peaceful force in Northeast Asia," Chung said. Such Japanese moves "seriously undermine South Korea-Japan friendship and go against the aspiration of neighboring countries in this region for peace and prosperity," he added. Chung also urged Japan to change its "unrepentant attitude" and said South Korea will explore new ways to make Japan correct its "anachronistic history distortion." Chung also announced four principles to guide future South Korean policy on Seoul-Tokyo ties. South Korea will commit itself to build a new South Korea-Japan ties based on "universal merit and common sense of human," which was explained by Chung as "thorough investigation over reality of history, sincere apology and self-reflection." In the past two years, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun pushed future-oriented policy toward Japan, rather than giving too much importance to the bitter memory of Japan's colonial rule of Korea. Chung also said South Korea will take stern measures to the Japanese claim of sovereignty over Dokdo and wrong behavior on history issue. While, in the same time, Seoul will prove justness of South Korea over the above issues to the international community. But, despite the dispute, Chung said South Korea will keep intact political and diplomatic exchanges while expanding economic, social and cultural exchanges with Japan. The passage of the Japan's provincial ordinance aroused furiousanger in South Korea, which now is taking effective control of Dokdo with deployment of a garrison of coast police. The South Korean government and people also made strong reaction to a new edition of a Japanese school textbook which was reportedly seriously distort the history of Japanese aggression against neighboring countries and colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula. On Thursday, thousands of South Korean people continued their demonstrations all over the country to protest the passage of the ordinance. South Korea insists that the Dokdo islets, located some 89 kilometers southeast to South Korean Uleung Island and 160 kilometers northwest to Japanese Oki Island, have been listed as its territory in history literature since the fifth century. While Japan also claims that the islets have been its territorysince the 17th century, as written in literature. The dispute over Dokdo and history textbook between the two countries poured ice water to the "South Korea-Japan Friendship Year", which was kicked off earlier 2005 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two. Enditem
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Post by Moses on Mar 17, 2005 9:46:53 GMT -5
Tokyo ties called 'seriously hurt'March 18, 2005 §— In the Roh administration's strongest pronouncement yet on the Tokto islands dispute, Chung Dong-young, the head of the National Security Council, said yesterday that Japanese assertions of sovereignty over Tokto were tantamount to justifying the invasion of the Korean Peninsula by the Japanese Imperial Army 100 years ago. Relations between South Korea and Japan have been "seriously hurt" by the dispute, Mr. Chung said. "The Japanese government is claiming territorial rights on our territory that was annexed forcefully through the process of invasion and colonization but which were then recovered through liberation. This is not simply just a matter of territorial issues but an act that denies the history of liberation and justifies past aggression," Mr. Chung said. The legislative council of Japan's Shimane prefecture ignited the reaction when on Wednesday it designated Feb. 22 as "Takeshima Day." Takeshima is the Japanese name for Tokto. Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Tae-shik pointed out yesterday that Feb. 22 holds special significance because it reflects the anniversary of Shimane prefecture's first claim to Tokto 100 years ago when Japan established a protectorate over Korea. "The notice was issued in 1905 when Korea was a 'protectorate' of Japan, and this notice has been cited by Japan as a legal proof to claim territorial rights to the islands," Mr. Lee said. "Japan's actions today are actions that could have taken place only in past colonial days." The formal treaty that made Korea a protectorate of Japan was signed in November 1905. Mr. Chung said that relations between the two countries should be built on common values, but that an examination of the past, sincere reflection and apologies were a foundation for solving conflicts between the two countries. He repeated that the South Korean government would take firm measures to counter any attempt by Japan to claim Tokto. Still, Mr. Chung tried to sound conciliatory, stating the government's willingness to continue efforts to improve economic, cultural and diplomatic ties despite the confrontation. In closing remarks he asked his fellow citizens to "refrain from insulting the other country or taking actions that violate courtesies between two nations." On March 1, 10 days before the Tokto dispute flared, President Roh Moo-hyun celebrated the anniversary of Korea's drive for independence from Japan with a speech calling on Tokyo to compensate individual colonial-era victims not covered in the 1965 South Korea-Japan Treaty that normalized ties. Under the treaty, South Korea, then led by President Park Chung Hee, received a lump sum compensation payment from the Japanese government, but the money was spent mostly to develop the country's economy while little compensation was provided by Seoul to individuals and victims that suffered as "sex slaves" were not covered in the treaty. Tokyo's response to the strong words from Seoul were not much different from Wednesday when the bill to establish "Takeshima Day" was passed. The Japanese Foreign Ministry reiterated both countries needed to be "level-headed." Meanwhile, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said a Japanese military patrol plane flew near the Tokto islands on Wednesday but remained within Japanese air space. An official with the staff said that South Korean authorities issued a warning three times and shifted the training area of two fighter jets nearby the islands but nothing unusual happened. In another development, an official of Korea Gas Corp. said yesterday that surveys conducted since 2000 showed that the sea around Tokto might contain substantial amount of gas hydrate, a form of natural gas. "Gas hydrate is hailed as the next energy source and this could be well one of the reasons Japan is trying to lay its hands on it," said an official.by Brian Lee <africanu@joongang.co.kr>
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Post by Moses on Mar 23, 2005 11:15:52 GMT -5
EDITORIAL: New World Bank chief
03/22/2005
Don't use post as a tool to pursue U.S. global strategy. U.S. President George W. Bush announced two contentious nominations last week. After naming Undersecretary of State John Bolton, a leading hawk in the Bush administration, as his choice to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Bush nominated Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, another hard-liner and one of the masterminds of the Iraq war, to head the World Bank. The two neoconservative kingpins justified the U.S.-led war against Iraq by arguing it is the mission of the United States to spread democracy around the world. As a result, they were partly responsible for causing a deep rift between Washington and its traditional allies in Europe. The nominations were greeted with dismay by the international community. In choosing Europe for his first overseas trip in his second term, Bush seemed to signal a shift from the unilateralist posture that characterized foreign policy in his first term to a more internationally oriented stance. But the message that the nominations sent out to the world suggested the United States will basically build consensus in American style at both the United Nations and the World Bank. In the past, Bolton often showed open disrespect for the United Nations. As Washington's ambassador to the world body, one wonders about his ability and zeal to heal the wounds caused by the clash over Iraq. Wolfowitz is an even more controversial choice because the post of World Bank president is not representative of the U.S. interests but the top post at one of the most important development aid organizations. Wolfowitz was the most vocal advocate of military action against Iraq within the Bush administration. He even predicted that U.S. troops would be warmly welcomed by the Iraqi people. Consequently, he has born the brunt of criticism from opponents of the war, both at home and abroad. Wolfowitz, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Indonesia in the late 1980s, is not totally inexperienced in development aid. It is worth recalling that Robert McNamara, who as U.S. defense secretary was an architect of the Vietnam War, devoted himself to supporting international efforts to reduce poverty in developing countries after he became head of the World Bank. Wolfowitz cannot be immediately dismissed as unqualified for the job just because of his political views. But the appointment like this should at least highlight the need to review the tradition, under which the United States selects the World Bank president while Europe picks the chief of its sister organization, the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The two bodies have discussed a reform plan that called in outside experts to select the top of their respective executive boards. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apparently offered his support for Bush's nominations immediately. But Japan, as a major contributor to both organizations, should have taken this opportunity to try to enlist U.S. support for further reforms rather than just give blanket backing to the nominations. As economic globalization advances, there is growing criticism that the U.S. government and the World Bank are working together to impose the American model of a free-market economy on uncompetitive developing countries. If the next World Bank chief creates the impression among developing countries that it is more interested in spreading American-model of democracy than in helping their economic development, the credibility of the organization that has been built up over decades will collapse overnight. Wolfowitz has stressed that he does not intend to impose the U.S. agenda on the bank. It still remains unclear if his nomination will be quickly embraced by other major contributors. But he must display a strong determination not to allow this key development agency to be used as a tool to pursue U.S. global strategy. --The Asahi Shimbun, March 21 (IHT/Asahi: March 22,2005)
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Post by Moses on Mar 30, 2005 23:02:46 GMT -5
Without Asia's Trust, Japan Will Remain a Political Pygmy Nariaki Nakayama, the Japanese education and science minister, answering a question in the Diet on Tuesday, said there was no mention in the guidelines for the country's textbooks that Takeshima -- his name for the Dokdo Islets -- and Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory. "This must be clearly mentioned when [the guidelines] are revised next time," he said. In November last year that same Nakayama said past Japanese textbooks were terribly self-lacerating and rejoiced that new textbooks were now talking less about "comfort women" drafted into sexual slavery for the country's military, or about forced conscription of the empire's subject peoples in general. The education minister's remarks stand for the sentiment of Japan's own neocons, who are emerging as a new mainstream in its politics. They say Japan no longer needs to feel it owes a debt to the Asian countries it terrorized but should rather proudly expand its international role. The neocons should listen carefully to warnings at home and abroad. Former Liberal Democratic Party secretary general Makoto Koga, a ruling party strongman, noted for one, "Asian trust is more important than anything else in Japan's diplomacy. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's imprudent political style has deepened conflicts with our neighbors." Like Korea, China is also indignant at Japan's territorial avarice and whitewashing of past wrongs. Chinese supermarkets and restaurants are boycotting Japan's Asahi beer; and Chinese netizens have collected 10 million signatures opposing Japan's ambition to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The country's neocons are possessed of the illusion that Japan can play an important role in the international community despite protests from its Asian neighbors if only it strengthens its alliance with Uncle Sam. They dream a dream of replaying their ancestors' model of 100 years ago, when they were poised to become a world power based on the secret Katsura-Taft treaty with the United States. url: english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200503/200503300041.html
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Post by Moses on Apr 9, 2005 22:21:01 GMT -5
washingtonpost.com Youth Attack Japan's Embassy in China Historic, Territorial Disputes Fuel Protest; Witnesses Allege Official Support By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, April 10, 2005; Page A20 BEIJING, April 9 -- Hundreds of young Chinese broke windows at the Japanese Embassy and other buildings Saturday after as many as 10,000 people marched through Beijing calling for a boycott of Japanese goods in a demonstration that appeared to have been sanctioned by the government. Huge contingents of municipal and military police, many in riot gear, followed the protesters and surrounded the embassy, preventing the crowds from getting too close. But witnesses said police allowed some groups to march past the building and throw rocks. There were also reports of vandalism at the ambassador's residence and a handful of Japanese restaurants and businesses, but no serious damage or injuries resulted. The Chinese government rarely approves public demonstrations but appeared to make an exception for the throng of mostly college-age protesters who converged in the city's high-tech district and for smaller groups that marched from there to the embassy. The protest occurred as relations between China and Japan have grown increasingly strained by a series of disputes over history and territory.
The flag-waving demonstrators urged the rejection of Japan's campaign for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council and called for a month-long boycott of Japanese goods to protest Japan's decision to issue new textbooks they say gloss over the atrocities it committed in China during World War II.Others demanded that Japan give up its claim to a string of small islands in the East China Sea that China considers part of its territory. As they paraded through the capital, the protesters sang China's national anthem, "March of the Volunteers," and chanted slogans such as "Down with Japanese imperialism!" and "Rejuvenate China and raise our national prestige!" Some ripped down advertisements for Japanese products, and others carried a large banner that read, "Selling Japanese products is shameful! Buying Japanese products is shameful!"Chen Henan, a graduate student at People's University who described himself as one of the organizers, said he and others asked police two days in advance for permission to stage the march and were told only that police would "watch the situation on the scene" -- an answer they took as tacit approval. "We are happy that the government is supportive," Chen said, his voice hoarse from shouting slogans. "The police helped a lot in clearing and leading the traffic. It's high time that our Chinese people should unite together. We hope one day that we Chinese people will be free of fear or pressure from any other country." Li Jian, a graduate student at Tsinghua University wearing a headband that read "China Must Win," said he learned about the march on the Internet and decided to participate because of "deep patriotism." "I want to urge all students in Chinese universities to unite and join the protest," he said. China's ruling Communist Party has sought to shore up support by emphasizing its nationalist credentials, and has launched "patriotic education" campaigns directed against foreign countries, including the United States. Japan has often accused China of encouraging anti-Japanese sentiment in its schools and in the state-run media, which routinely censor more sympathetic views of Japan. In Tokyo, Japan filed a formal protest with the Chinese Embassy about the demonstration and asked that security be tightened around the Japanese diplomatic compound. The Chinese envoy said he would immediately report the request to Beijing, the Kyodo news agency reported.
Researcher Zhang Jing contributed to this report. |
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Post by Moses on Apr 22, 2005 9:26:04 GMT -5
China `Welcomes' Apology Made by Japanese PM Koizumi on War April 22 (Bloomberg) -- China welcomed comments made in Jakarta today by Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the pain his country inflicted on neighboring nations before and during World War II, a Chinese spokesman said. ``For Koizumi to have made the comments that he made in such a forum, to express such an apology, we welcome that,'' said Kong Quan, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.``Any recognition of a historical fact is welcome.'' The apology came in the third week of strained ties between Asia's two largest powers. Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao are both attending a meeting of more than 100 leaders from Asia and Africa, hosted by Indonesia in Jakarta. The meeting started today and ends on Sunday. ``Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations,'' Koizumi said at the leaders' meeting, according to a government translation of his remarks. ``With feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology always engraved in mind,'' Japan would never turn itself ``into a military power,'' he said. Koizumi says he plans to meet China's Hu tomorrow to help reverse deteriorating relations between Asia's two biggest economies. Kong declined to confirm if the planned meeting would take place. ``Right now the foreign ministries of China and Japan are having urgent discussions'' to facilitate talks between Hu and Koizumi, Kong said. He downplayed the severity of the dispute, which ranges from Chinese anger over Japan's quest for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council to a maritime dispute over drilling rights for natural gas in the East China Sea, and the wording of Japanese school texts on its role in China during its occupation between 1931 and 1945. ``We have some difficulties but I think we can solve this with dialogue,'' Kong said. ``China respects its relationship with Japan and I believe Japan also respects its relationship with China. We hope to broaden our ties.'' `Hope' China exceeded the U.S. last year as Japan's main trading partner, with exports and imports totaling $206 billion, a fifth of Japan's total. The Chinese economy expanded 9.5 percent, more than expected, in the three months ended March 30 to $1.6 trillion. Japan's economy is almost three times larger at $4.6 trillion by the end of 2004. Japan, which relies on overseas supplies for 99.7 percent of its oil, claims drilling rights to tracts of the East China Sea, deepening a territorial dispute. Earlier, a Thai spokesman said the issue was raised when Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra met Hu in private talks on the sidelines of the regional meeting. ``We asked about the remarks made by Prime Minister Koizumi and the President of China noted that it was the first time such an apology has been made at an international forum,'' Thai spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said in an interview. The spokesman sat in on the talks and spoke on Thaksin's behalf. Thaksin expressed ``hope relations between Japan and China will be continued on an upward track,'' the spokesman said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Claire Leow and Sri Jegarajah in Jakarta cleow@bloomberg.net. Last Updated: April 22, 2005 08:47 EDT
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Post by Moses on Jun 8, 2005 23:37:32 GMT -5
Japan caught up in U.S.-China spat06/07/2005
The Asahi ShimbunSINGAPORE--Japan came under criticism in the fallout of a heated exchange between the United States and China over Taiwan at the Asia Security Conference here. In fact, some participants said Japan-not China-is the country creating the most fears in Asia. The three-day conference, hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, ended Sunday. A key topic of debate was a Japan-U.S. agreement reached in February on common strategic objectives-including how to deal with Taiwan. The joint statement said the objective was to "encourage the peaceful resolution of issues concerning the Taiwan Strait through dialogue." In his speech in Singapore on Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questioned the validity of China's increased military spending when the country faced no threats, as well as its heightened deployment of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan. Cui Tiankai, director-general of the Asian Affairs Department at China's Foreign Ministry, retorted by asking Rumsfeld if the United States felt threatened by the stronger presence of China. Rumsfeld had to diplomatically admit there was no such threat. However, in a subsequent question-and-answer session, both Rumsfeld and Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono were asked about the common strategic objective pertaining to Taiwan. Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum, which is affiliated with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, asked Rumsfeld for his interpretation of reports in many Asian nations that the common strategic objective meant Japan and the United States would act together to defend Taiwan.
Rumsfeld only said that the contents of the joint statement were in the public domain. [!!!!] Cossa then asked Ono about the growing perception in Asia that Japan and the United States would contain China as a means of defending Taiwan.
Ono simply responded that the joint statement should be read carefully. [!!!!!!] In response to questions from The Asahi Shimbun, one of the sponsors of the conference, Cossa said many nations in East Asia were concerned about Japan's defense policy. "With the issue of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine also coming into the picture, the view is emerging among Asian countries that the nation truly to be afraid of is not China, but Japan," said a Singapore-based researcher. The latest Asia Security Conference saw the first participation of a delegation of Chinese government officials. But getting the Chinese to attend meant that Taiwan was left out. The IISS and Beijing reached an agreement after the IISS presented China with a list of four conditions: No government officials from Taiwan would attend, although scholars would be invited; no speeches would be given by Taiwan participants; no official bilateral or multilateral meetings would take place involving a Taiwan participant; and there would be no mention of Taiwan as an independent nation in the official program. The Asia Security Conference was first held in Singapore in 2002 and brings together defense ministers and officials from the Asia-Pacific region. Four conferences have been held to date.(IHT/Asahi: June 7,2005)
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Post by REW on Feb 10, 2007 5:11:36 GMT -5
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