Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Taiwan and Japan Are Trade and Military partners: President Chen

On the other hand, according to the "blue-water naval strategy" proposed in 1993 by Liu Huaqing, a former first vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission, the Chinese navy must move its defense from the coastline to the first chain of outlying islands -- Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

In 1992, the Standing Committee of the People's Congress adopted the "Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone," which codified an unprecedented view of the ocean, saying that "ocean territory is an important part of China's living space." Based on a geopolitical analysis, China's power is land-based. The series of islands from Kyushu to Nansei-shoto in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines separate China from the Pacific and blocks a possible extension of China's influence to Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, India and Pakistan.

If, therefore, China wants to become an ocean-faring nation and a global force, it has to eliminate these negative geographical factors and the restrictions placed on it by Taiwan, to reach the Pacific Ocean. This means that Japan's sea lanes will come under threat. For Japan, the South China Sea and the waters off Taiwan are vital for transporting oil and other important strategic resources.

A 1996 long-term forecast of the security situation and Japan's proper defense preparations by the National Institute for Defense Studies under the Japan Defense Agency points out that the shipping lanes running through the Malacca Strait and the Bashi Strait will come under threat if China were to become an economic, military and political superpower.

With its growing influence in the region, it can be predicted that China will become the major force in East Asia if Japan continues to avoid taking on the role as the major military force in the area.
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The following text indicates Japan will take on the role of major military force in the area.

-Am


TAIWAN AND JAPAN ARE TRADE AND MILITARY PARTNERS: PRESIDENT CHEN

2004/09/10 21:43:42

Taipei, Sept. 10 (CNA) The relationship between Taiwan and Japan is based on their common interests in trade, military affairs and values, President Chen Shui-bian said Friday. Receiving two visiting Japanese Dietmen, Seiichiro Murakami and Ichiro Kamoshita, the president said both Taiwan and Japan believe in democracy, freedom and human rights, and this cements their ties. The two countries are close trading partners, Chen said, adding that they are also military partners with the same interests in peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. They also face the same threat from mainland China's military building-up and missile deployments. Noting that Beijing has blocked Taiwan's entry into the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, Chen said his country would be very thankful if Japan could organize an international conference that Taiwan is able to attend. (By Maubo Chang) ENDITEM/mw 

http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?action=cna&cnaid=2311