Japan Caught Between US and China :: essays research papers

Japan caught up in U.S.-China spatJapan came under criticism in the fallout of a heated exchange between the United States and China over chinaware at the Asia protective cover Conference here. In f comprise, some participants say Japan-not China-is the expanse creating the most fears in Asia. The three-day conference, hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, end 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 debate said the objective was to "encourage the peaceful resolution of issues concerning the Taiwan Strait through and through 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 Asia n personal matters Department at Chinas Foreign Ministry, retorted by asking Rumsfeld if the United States felt up 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 office chief Yoshinori Ono were asked about the common strategic objective pertaining to Taiwan. Ralph Cossa, president of the peaceable Forum, which is affiliated with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, asked Rumsfeld for his interpretation of reports in umteen 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 gist of defending Taiwan. Ono simply responded that the joint state ment 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 bear on about Japans defense policy. "With the issue of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumis visits to Yasukuni Shrine excessively 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.