by Beijing – is a factor in the gradual transformation of Japan from a pacifist nation, with pacificism enshrined in the US-imposed constitution, to one that assumes a more powerful role on the world stage – and will not countenance a perceived threat from its formidable neighbor to the west. To handle this seeming “threat”, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is rushing to change Japan’s traditional pacifist military posture – urged on by Washington to play a larger role and expand its military operations in the so-called “arc of instability” stretching from Northeast Asia to the Middle East.
Faced with China’s strengthening military power, the United States and Japan are reinforcing bilateral security relations by changing Tokyo’s pacifistic military posture for their common interest – to prevent an ever-stronger China from emerging as the global and regional superpower, especially militarily, in the coming decades. For the US, China is the only country that has high potential to threaten US global dominance in the 21st century. For Japan, China could jeopardize political and economic stability in Asia, threatening Tokyo’s credibility as the leading economic power in the region. To cope with this “China threat”, Tokyo is adopting a more muscular military posture, one that causes alarm to its neighbors in Beijing, Seoul, Manila and elsewhere.
The Chinese are building up their forces in the Nanjing Military Region directly opposite Taiwan:
China has not ruled out the use of force to reunify Taiwan and the mainland, especially if Taiwan declares independence.
Meanwhile, China issued late last month the White Paper, which outlined the country’s new national defense policy. The document, the fifth on national defense since 1995, described Taiwan relations as “grim” and made clear that any attempt at independence would be dealt with harshly. “Should the Taiwan authorities go so far as to make a reckless attempt that constitutes a major incident of Taiwan independence, the Chinese people and armed forces will resolutely and thoroughly crush it at any cost,” China’s 85-page White Paper said. “The Taiwan authorities under [President] Chen Shui-bian have recklessly challenged the status quo … and markedly escalated the Taiwan independence activities designed to split China.”
And now, in case the message wasn’t clear enough, they’re proposing a 100-mile bridge:
China is planning an engineering feat even grander than the Great Wall and the Three Gorges Dam. But politics rather than nature may turn out to be the biggest obstacle.
Zhang Chunxian, China’s Communications Minister, announced plans yesterday for a 100-mile fixed link to Taiwan, the island that has fought a cold war with the mainland for more than five decades.
“There will be a special corridor linking the mainland to Taipei,” said Mr Zhang, insisting that the project was feasible. “It may be a bridge. It may be a tunnel.”
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