Japan’s Stance on Taiwan and Regional Security
REPORTER:
So Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has softened her rhetoric on Taiwan somewhat, saying she didn't mean to get specific. But she hasn't retracted her original statement. What significance do you see in that?
It’s just a cover.
They don’t want the incident to keep growing.
And they want China to have an off-ramp
so it can deescalate and turn down the heat.
They’re not retracting her statement
because that’s always been Japan’s stance.
Takaichi’s statement isn’t new.
They are reiterating the 1972 Communique
normalizing ties with China
under which they didn’t recognize Taiwan
as part of the People’s Republic of China.
They’re telling China that’s always been their stance.
Takaichi is just saying it clearly.
REPORTER:
So she might be softening her rhetoric around Taiwan, but she's not retracting her statement. Is that going to be enough to mollify Beijing, or do you see tensions between China and Japan continuing to be high?
It’s not a matter of tensions rising or easing.
Japan is taking the problems it faces seriously
and not hiding from them anymore.
Japan has long felt a threat from China
but now, its people will wake up.
It won’t be like the past
when Japan turned a blind eye
to China’s military expansion
as if they couldn’t see it.
They believed as long as US bases were in Japan
there wouldn’t be a problem.
Now, they will face up to China themselves.
REPORTER:
What can Taiwan do to maximize its self-interest and make the best of the situation in this triangle of global powers and the frictions between them?
We must show our ability to defend ourselves.
That’s the only way to prevent war.
If Taiwan and Japan join forces
it will lower the risk of fighting.
Even though we cannot hold joint military exercises
Japan can do what it does
and we can do what we do
communicating regularly
standing firmly in our positions and defending our camp.
02:15
03:07
03:25
03:01
00:42
00:30
02:42
02:54
03:24
02:06
00:32
00:29
00:30
03:50
03:09
04:36