How Did Japan's Relation Between Japan And Taiwan

In the past few years, the relation between Japan and Taiwan shows the new development, including the regional security, that appears to be the two countries being in a new era. I would wish to introduce Japan's re-recognition of Taiwan It was 120 years ago, Qing dynasty ceded Taiwan to Japan in April 1895 as a consequence of the Sino-Japanese war. Having received Taiwan from Qing empire, Japan spent tremendous effort in development of Taiwan. For example, in 1898, the population of the Japanese mainland was 43 million with the government budget of 220 million yen. Yet, the Japanese Governor General of Taiwan demanded 60 million yen of development budgets of Taiwan. At that time, Taiwan's population was 2.7 million. Furthermore, in the
The geopolitical viewpoint on a security aspect was not paid much attention. As a matter of fact, before the Russo-Japanese war in 1904 and 1905, Japan's national defense plan was projected on the map of Northeast Asia. After the Russo-Japanese war, Japan came to work out about her security plan on the world map and in front of the globe. The Imperial Defence Policy was enacted in 1907. It is a military secret document in which the basic scheme of national defense was written.

The first revision of the Imperial Defence Policy of 1918 named the United States as the second imaginary enemy. Hence, Taiwan's position was formally recognized as the logistics base in the possible operation against US forces in the Philippines.

In the second revision of the Imperial Defence Policy of 1923, Taiwan came to be regarded even more significant as the base against US forces on the Guam island in addition to those in the Philippines. While there was the third revision of the Defence Policy in 1936, the significance of Taiwan in the context of Japan's military and diplomacy did not change until the end of the WW
China also would wait patiently. In this situation, many of the people might regard that strong China is overwhelmingly advantageous in this tug of war. Yet, I do not exactly think so. Because growing in Taiwan is the sound democracy, that is able to match even with that massive military power of China.

American domestic law of “Taiwan Relations Act” is the legal ground to directly assure Taiwan's security. At the same time, what Taiwan should appeal through the “Taiwan Relations Act” to the American citizens and to the people of the world is the common value of a sound and peaceful nation, that is the defence of democracy itself.

Japan's prime minister Mr. Abe calls Taiwan as “Japan's old friend.” In today's international circumstanses, many of the Japanese people realize the significance of Taiwan with sound democracy and common sense of value.

By visualizing this fact in the last few years, Japan's re-realized the significance of Taiwan. Today, Japan sees Taiwan in the new light of emotion and regional security as well, which is the motive of my presentation.

Thank