Taiwan Church News 3313 Edition August 24 - 30, 2015 Headline News A New Asia-Pacific Order Is Emerging When Japan Endeavors To Pass A Security Act Of Collective Self-DefenseReported by Chiu Kuo-rong Regarding the constitutional reform to exercise a right of collective self-defense, which is more and more positivelyurged by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, not only US and China responds differently but also the neighboring countries have complicated stances and attitudes. So, it becomes necessary for Taiwan to know the impact of Japan's new strategic policy toward the geo-politics of the whole Asia-Pacific area. In the afternoon on 22 August, Mr. Koh Se-kai, former Taiwan top diplomat to Japan from 2004 to 2008, was invitedby Taiwan New Century Foundation to deliver a speech, entitled as "The Significance Of Japan's Collective Self-Defense And Her Implications For Asia-Pacific Order", explaining the strategic meanings of this critical security act proposed by Shinzo Abe administration. "The major goal of Abe administration is to modify the article 9 of Japan constitution. Though over one-third of lowerhouse MPs have agreed to modify article 9, an one-third MP votes of upper house are still stopped short. So, Abe administration has to wait until next fall, when the upper house completes re-election. Till then, what PM Abe pledges to achieve could be done", analysed Koh. The reason, why US wants to support Abe's constitutional reform, is based on her re-balancing strategy of "ReturnTo Asia". In the meantime, China's recent aggressive operations, like building artificial islands in South China Sea or claiming her sovereignty over Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, make international society prepared to accept Japan's exercise of the collective self-defense, said Koh. The truth about VOA news, that Ma Ying-jeou administration seemed cautiously silent on Japan's restoration of herself-defense policy, was due to Ma administration's ultimate fears to lose the patronage of US, though his core diplomatic principle is to make China as friends and treat Japan as foes, commented Koh. Koh pointed out that, if there is no surprise, Taiwan would have a second "party alternation" in 2006. It means Taiwan would be a new partner joining the party of US-Japan Alliance in the coming future. Though currently Taiwan has no official diplomatic relationship with Japan, it is unprecedented that Taiwan was respected as a country either in Abe's open speech about Taiwan or in Japan's official documents. Therefore, an increasingly critical strategic position of Taiwan among the new Asia-Pacific geo-politics is deeply understood by Japan government and her people. Translated by Peter Wolfe |