Chen must walk softly between US, PRC, Japan

[dArKeR]

Later this summer, President Chen Shui-bian (???) will present the nation's first ever National Security Report. This unprecedented event has been triggered by Chen's eagerness to enhance his legacy. But he should give careful thought to how he defines the conditions for national security.
Taiwan is involved in a tug-of-war between the US, Japan and China. Beijing has adopted a strategy of engaging the US, oppressing Taiwan and opposing Japan. The US is attempting to form a coalition with Japan while leaning toward Taiwan to contain China. None of the four countries are able to maintain a strategic equilibrium given the slew of issues that have come into play in the four-sided relationship.

The current situation can be judged from three perspectives.
First, the US-Japan talks in February produced an agreement to view stability in the Taiwan Strait as a common strategic objective. This is basically a adjustment to the defensive alliance between Japan and the US in the face of deteriorating cross-strait relations.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2005/06/26/2003260829