Japan Caught Between US and China :: essays research papers

Japan caught up in U.S.-China spatJapan came under denunciation in the fallout of a heated exchange between the United States and China over Taiwan at the Asia Security convocation here. In fact, more or less 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. contract reached in February on universal strategic marks-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 with(predicate) dialogue." In his speech in Singapore on Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questioned the validity of Chinas 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 A sian Affairs Department at Chinas 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 exploitation 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 hear 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 Japans defense policy. "With the issue of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumis visits to Yasukuni Shrine as well 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.