Japan Caught Between Us and China

Japan caught up in U.S.-China spat

Japan came under criticism in the fallout of a heated exchange between the United States and China over Taiwan at the Asia Security Conference here. In fact, some participants said Japan-not China-is the country creating the most fears in Asia.

The three-day conference, hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, ended 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 statement said the objective was to "encourage the peaceful resolution of issues concerning the Taiwan Strait through dialogue."

In his speech in Singapore on Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questioned the validity of China's 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 Asian Affairs Department at China's Foreign Ministry, retorted by asking Rumsfeld if the United States felt 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 Agency chief Yoshinori Ono were asked about the common strategic objective pertaining to Taiwan.

Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum, which is affiliated with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, asked Rumsfeld for his interpretation of reports in many 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 means of defending Taiwan.

Ono simply responded that the joint statement 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 concerned about Japan's defense policy.

"With the