US-Japan-Taiwan security discussed at trilateral seminar

        In addition to countering China's threat from without, Taiwan must address challenges from within, according to former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Randall Schriver. Specifically, he cited the legislative paralysis caused by inter-party rivalry. Schriver made the comments in an Oct. 24 speech at a security seminar in Taipei.

        Schriver joined former Japanese ambassador to Thailand Hisahiko Okazaki as well as several other prestigious former and current government officials and political analysts from the United States, Japan and Taiwan in taking part in the conference organized by Taiwan Thinktank.

        The seminar was aimed at finding ways to build a security consultative mechanism among the three countries and exploring opportunities for trilateral collaboration in response to new political and economic developments taking place in the region. Representatives discussed strategic cooperation between Taiwan, the United States and Japan, reviewed political trends in the three countries and explored the potential for future economic alliances.

        Schriver gave an overview of China's rapid rise and its impact on the Western Pacific region, saying that China is not only growing militarily but also rapidly developing its "comprehensive national power." He added that there is a tremendous potential for Taiwan to contribute to U.S. and Japanese strategic interests in the region and suggested that Taiwan employ informal diplomatic alliances to circumvent Chinese intervention. He went on to say that Taiwan must address challenges from within, such as the legislative impotence that stems from destructive partisan squabbling.

        Tomohito Shinoda, a professor at the International University of Japan, gave a speech explaining the changes taking place under the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the impact that these changes are likely to have on Japan's political development.

        Following this presentation, Japanese representatives pointed out that the lack of consensus on the extent of constitutional reform and on choosing candidates for Koizumi's successor are two issues that require close attention and will likely have a significant impact on collective security in the Western Pacific region.

        Director for Foreign Policy Studies at the Taiwan Thinktank Lai I-chung focused on the economy, outlining recent economic trends in the Asia-Pacific region in his speech and proposing that the three nations strengthen economic ties. They could do this, he suggested, by engaging in joint strategy planning related to regional economic organizations and accelerating talks on free trade agreements with each other and other countries in the region.

        The seminar kicked off the second round of the U.S.-Japan-Taiwan trialogue, which follows the U.S.-Japan security consultations held earlier this year. The four meetings during the first talks were held in Taipei, Tokyo and Washington between 2002 and 2004. According to the organizer, conclusions reached at these meetings have served as policy recommendations for the three governments.

        In his opening remarks at the symposium, Secretary General of the Presidential Office Yu Shyi-kun urged the three sides to work together for regional security. He said the administration of President Chen Shui-bian is trying several methods to protect national security and is committed to serving as a reliable partner for its strategic allies. He suggested that further integration of military, political and economic affairs among the three countries would help them prepare for new challenges in the fast-changing Asia-Pacific region.