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The Wisdom of Asia №7 [雑木林の四季]

Part Ⅰ:How to Deal with China and America

Chapter One
Expanding Potentials in Asia by “Taiwan's Choice”

President of Akita International University   Nakajima Mineo 

5.Cooperation between Japan and Taiwan:A Start

     “The Asia Open Forum”has been held in Japan and Taiwan in alternate years.We were not,however,able to have President Lee come to Japan while he was in office. This is very regrettable. America clearly differs  in this respect.The U.S.,like Japan,has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but has been able to have free exchange of politicians and government officialls. When Cornell University invited President Lee,it did so with the overwhelming support of the U.S. congress and publiic oplnion, and not even the White House could interfere.
     In 1989, Taiwan was still a taboo issue in Japan. As a result even highly respected scholars have been embarrassed and reluctant when asked to join“The Asia Open Forum・” I was hurt when turned down by some I did not expec t to be so affected. The Taiwan issue would be much easier to handle if the members of Japan's leadercship class genuin understanding of Asia and if Japan showed a resolute attitude to ward China's interfbrence.
     I think the people of Taiwan have an uncertainty toward Japan,which has continued to come up short in the expectations of the people of Taiwan since Japan-Taiwan diplomatic relations were severed in 1972,turnlng Taiwan in to an orphan o fAsia. Desplte this,many of the people of Taiwan are very pro-Japan.
     It is through the Asia Open Forum that Japan and Taiwan are now able to have amedium for cultivating mutual understanding.Confronted with an abundance of people expresslng the desire to attend the Asia Open Forumin Taiwan,We even face selection difficulties. This phenomenon would not have been possible without President Lee,Who hasa profbund understanding of Japan.Nor would it have been possible without Taiwan's splendid economic,social and political development,
    President Lee's  book  The  Road to Democracy has won the admiration of many readers in Japan,especially among leading busines smen and politicians. This book wil lcenter on wha the did not finish saylng in the earlier volum e and on wha the wished to delve more deeply into. We shall be eoncerned with what was fresh in his mind when he retired as President.

"The Wisdom of Asia" Translated by Alexander K. Young                                 Akita International Univwrsity Press

日本語版『アジアの知略』は光文社カッパブックスにあります


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