energy search activities were met with anger and protest from the Japanese political circle and
government. This February, the Japanese government decided to claim and manage a lighthouse
built and abandoned by a rightist group on Uotsuri-jima of Senkaku Islands, which provoked an
angry response from the Chinese. A Chinese nuclear submarine intruded the Japanese territorial
sea and stirred up the argument for “the China threat” in Japan in December 2004.
Most recently, the Japanese-US joint statement after their bilateral foreign and security
ministerial dialogue clearly included the Taiwan problem into the list of issues for the joint
action, of which the Chinese government immediately opposed.
There has been a surge of the
indigenous Taiwanese identity with democratization in recent Taiwan. Taiwan’s pro-
independent leader, former President Lee Tenghui was educated at Japanese and US universities,
and his visits to Japan and the US for “personal” reasons have disturbed the Chinese government
which has interpreted his intentions as attempts to strengthen ties between Taiwan and the two
countries. Chinese leaders believe China’s “reunification” with Taiwan will complete its long
march to complete sovereignty, which has been lost since western colonialism advanced
eastward. Taiwan’s independence is now at high stakes for China, and the Chinese leaders
believe it must be prevented at all costs, including the possible use of military force. China has
been requiring Japan and the US to support its “One China policy.” The Japanese-US joint
statement will undoubtedly drag the two countries to the possible China-Taiwan conflict.
Such developments in opposing directions have divided the Japanese public opinion into pro-
1
“Japan and the US prioritized stability in East Asia over the reduction of bases,” Mainichi
Shimbun, Japan, Feb. 21, 2005.
Convention