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Taiwan Independence Trigger For Conflict
Washington (AFP) May 03, 2007 Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said here Wednesday that he did not expect a major conflict to occur over Taiwan unless the island declared independence from China. Kyuma cited the improving economies ties between China and Taiwan as well as between the United States and China, and Japan and China and said he did not expect cross strait tensions to escalate. "Unless Taiwan unilaterally declares independence, it is very difficult for me to see the situation going down that route," he said at a Washington forum. He said Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during a recent landmark visit to Tokyo declared that "unless Taiwan unilaterally declares independence, it is Chinese government policy to resolve this issue peacefully. "And I believe that is the policy, position taken by the United States as well, and also Japan agrees with that US position," he said, sidestepping a question on whether the United States and Japan remain committed to the security of Taiwan. Kyuma then added that "it is very difficult to talk about the issue as sensitive as cross strait" relations "based on hypothetical situations" and that Tokyo was prepared legally to confront a conflict situation over Taiwan. "But should something occur (in the Taiwan strait), if the situation falls in the direction that threatens peace and stability, peace and security of Japan, we do have a legislative framework, law to deal with that situation in areas surrounding Japan," the Japanese defense chief said. Military allies the United States and Japan declared for the first time, in February 2005, that Taiwan was a common security issue, infuriating China which sees the island as a renegade province awaiting reunification. Tokyo and Washington had said then that it was a common strategic objective in the region to "encourage the peaceful resolution of issues concerning the Taiwan Strait through dialogue." Japan recognizes only Beijing as China's legitimate government but some prominent Japanese lawmakers are known for sympathy to Taiwan. China's nationalists fled to Taiwan, a former Japanese colony, in 1949 after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to invade the island should it declare formal independence. Tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated since independence-leaning President Chen Shui-bian was elected president in 2000. He was narrowly re-elected in 2004.
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