Taiwan envoy hopes Japan will play greater role in regional stability

World War II cast a long shadow. Japanese leaders do not want to repeat past mistakes.

If Japan learned a lesson, it is to be neutral.

What is needed is another NATO like alliance in Asia.

Don't forget US bought CCP as an legitimate ruler of One-China as opposed to England insisted ROC as the one.

Remember the situation back then. Mao and the Soviets were at each other's throats. The thought of a Sino-Soviet war was not at all far fetched. Taiwan was ruled by a ruthless dictatorship that was, like Mao, perfectly willing to kill its own people to stay in power. In fact it was a bit embarrassing at the time for the US to support such a horrible government. Burying the hatchet with Mao kept a lot of the Soviet Army tied down on the Chinese border, troops that otherwise would have been sent to Warsaw Pact nations arrayed against NATO. Subsequent to this the idea of engagement through trade and the arts would eventually change China. It worked with the South Koreans who got rid of a military dictatorship that killed more of their own people than were killed at Tiananmen Square. Likewise engagement eventually led to the end of the military dictatorship in Taiwan. In time both became more or less model democracies. The idea that engagement could work with China was not far fetched at all. And I will point something out. It may still end up working. Yes China is horribly repressive but go back and read the histories of the dictatorships in South Korea and Taiwan. Right before they fell they committed their greatest brutalities. China under Xi Jinping is becoming increasingly oppressive. It is not so apparent in the western press but China is a pressure cooker of unhappy people who want change. Too many Chinese have traveled to the west, studied there, have family members living in places like San Jose or Vancouver and know what the CCP tells them are lies. They know they are oppressed and are not happy about it. The official press will never run an article on the subject but know it is true. When the final chapter of the CCP is written, most likely in its own blood, we may yet credit engagement as having helped bring the CCP down.

Most importantly, the US needs to urgently formally recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, with full diplomatic relations

Consider that Taiwan man not wish to take that path. I think everyone understands that the instant Taiwan declares independence the CCP will fell compelled to go to war and attempt to conquer Taiwan. Anything that looks like Taiwan becoming an independent nation will back the CCP into a corner and force them to fight. Other nations must respect this situation. The CCP won't last forever In another decade or two the CCP might not even be in power and a completely different situation might exist between Taiwan and whatever succeeds the CCP on the mainland. In the meantime an armed standoff is about the best anybody can hope for.

Taiwan feels desperate in this, obviously is in Japan best interests to support it, but at this point I don't think there is anything it can offer, if the worst come to happen Japan will give little more than declarations of how "regrettable" things are.

Don't forget US bought CCP as an legitimate ruler of One-China as opposed to England insisted ROC as the one.

The US got dragged into the Pacific War because of Japan invading the Republic of China...Oil Embargo...Pearl Harbor. The CCP caught a huge break when Japan attacked its enemy. It wouldn’t even be in existence today otherwise. Japan reaps what she sows.

So Japan can't do what Taiwan wants Japan to do to preserve regional stability

Exactly. It cannot carry out its own will and has to follow the US. as Fighto says:

The US should show some courage and leadership and make the move. Taiwan deserves full recognition.

Only then, Japan can also engage in full diplomatic relations with the peace-loving, great nation of Taiwan.

That’s an If and only if.

Asia is going to need something like NATO to prevent China from abusing the territorial rights of its neighbors. It has to be a group effort.

China’s plan A is the new Silk Road and through Xinjiang. The South China Seas is plan B. The US withdrawing from Afghanistan yields to China’s geopolitical dominance in the region.

The people of Taiwan has been kicked around for centuries first ruled by the Portuguese, then the Spanish, then the Dutch, the Manchus, then the Japanese, then the Chinese, Small fish like Taiwan, Okinawa, Hawaii, Catalina are routinely swallowed up by larger fish that is China, Japan, the US, and Spain.

Taiwan is not a self ruled island, it is China. The mainland is rouge and full of communist non-visionaries.

Japan is already part of Quad Alliance to balance China. While S. Korea wants to get closer to CCP

S.Korea wants to get closer to the USA not CCP.

Wait until S.Korea is formally invited to join Quad to see what it does before you make more erroneous comments.

Your country Taiwan should never be on any list next to CCP China and the hateful Korea to say negative things about Japan when IAEA supports Japan, America supports us, sad to see Taiwan go down this route...at a time when more pressure is being applied on Japan to support Taiwan! Your worried about filtered water when dozens of Chinese planes flying overhead!

Someone did not get their calming coffee this morning. Any nation has the right to question possibly dangerous radiation being released into the worlds oceans, even China and Taiwan. Both are probably signed on to the Paris accords along with Japan is that also wrong, or just because the water issue focuses on Japan?

This Taiwanese diplomat is a bit naive. Does he not understand that Japan has their own huge problems???

If your neighbors house catches fire, it's your best interest to help them out it out. Lest the fire spread to your home and you have no neighbor to help you. China is the fire BTW.

Too many China School traitors in current ruling party, especially Komieto. being heavily Chinese-trapped which is not just honey one.

This Taiwanese diplomat is a bit naive. Does he not understand that Japan has their own huge problems???

Taiwan is in serious danger,

You need to support Japan 100٪ in return!

If we can't rely on Taiwan for support on radioactive water filtered by advanced technology, what if is something more serious? Would Taiwan return the favor? So far I'm not happy with them sidding with China and S.Korea against Japan on any issues!! Shame!! You should be on Japan and America side!

Samit

Japan is already part of Quad Alliance to balance China. While S. Korea wants to get closer to CCP China. Your Korea is unwilling to take any action to balance China, nothing on Taiwan from South Korea, but your so worried about Japan's position as always!

To Taiwan,

Support Japan in return!

Your country Taiwan should never be on any list next to CCP China and the hateful Korea to say negative things about Japan when IAEA supports Japan, America supports us, sad to see Taiwan go down this route...at a time when more pressure is being applied on Japan to support Taiwan! Your worried about filtered water when dozens of Chinese planes flying overhead!

Well stated by the Taiwanese envoy.

Japan has and can continue to play a huge leading role in the protection of Taiwan. It would be good to see a much increased Japanese Naval presence around Taiwan to counter the constant stream of PRC vessels.

Most importantly, the US needs to urgently formally recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, with full diplomatic relations. Continuing on the way they have been for the past 4 decades is NOT going to work any more with an aggressive, invasive Communist China. The US should show some courage and leadership and make the move. Taiwan deserves full recognition.

Only then, Japan can also engage in full diplomatic relations with the peace-loving, great nation of Taiwan.

It's ironic that The Republic of China which Imperial Japan invaded and fought in 1937 is seeking help from Japan to protect it from the People's Republic of China, which didn't exist until 4 years after WWII ended has made anti-Japan and WWII issues a political and diplomatic tool.

Fascism was wrong in the 1930s-40s, and it is wrong now. The whole world needs to stop catering to the Chinese fascists and support Taiwan, a vibrant succesful democracy and good international citizen.

Asia is going to need something like NATO to prevent China from abusing the territorial rights of its neighbors. It has to be a group effort.

United we stand, divided we fall.

fear of thousands of Chinese ballistic missiles launched toward Japan

Missile Defense Project, "Missiles of China," Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies, June 14, 2018, last modified July 16, 2020, https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/china/.

That link has the US DoD estimates for Chinese missiles and capabilities:

SRBM are about 1500 with 250 launchers.

MRBM are about 450 with 150 launchers.

IRBM are about 160 with 80 launchers.

All Japan has to do is grant US the pre-authorization to allow US Forces Japan to launch military intervention from Okinawa.

That gives a written assurance of a US military intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion.

Unfortunately, Japan refuses to grant such authorization due to the fear of thousands of Chinese ballistic missiles launched toward Japan, since China has threatened to declare Japan an enemy combatant if the US forces launched their military intervention from Okinawa.

So Japan can't do what Taiwan wants Japan to do to preserve regional stability.

Japan have to show more leadership. Unfortunately so far the government has struggled with everything they have done.

Even though Japan has more trade with China, it have to make up its mind of sacrificing its economy down by shifting the trade to other counties.