SINGAPORE--Japan came under criticism in the fallout of a heated exchange between the United States and China over Taiwan at the Asia Security Conference here. In fact, some participants said Japan--not China--is the country creating the most fears in Asia.
The three-day conference, hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, ended Sunday.
A key topic of debate was a Japan-U.S. agreement reached in February on common strategic objectives--including how to deal with Taiwan.
The joint statement said the objective was to "encourage the peaceful resolution of issues concerning the Taiwan Strait through dialogue."
In his speech in Singapore on Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questioned the validity of China's increased military spending when the country faced no threats, as well as its heightened deployment of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan.
Cui Tiankai, director-general of the Asian Affairs Department at China's Foreign Ministry, retorted by asking Rumsfeld if the United States felt threatened by the stronger presence of China.
Rumsfeld had to diplomatically admit there was no such threat.
However, in a subsequent question-and-answer session, both Rumsfeld and Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono were asked about the common strategic objective pertaining to Taiwan.
Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum, which is affiliated with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, asked Rumsfeld for his interpretation of reports in many Asian nations that the common strategic objective meant Japan and the United States would act together to defend Taiwan.
Rumsfeld did not directly address the question, but only said that the contents of the joint statement were in the public domain.
Cossa then asked Ono about the growing perception in Asia that Japan and the United States would contain China as a means of defending Taiwan. Ono only responded that the joint statement should be read carefully.
In response to questions from The Asahi Shimbun, Cossa said many nations in East Asia were concerned about Japan's defense policy.
"With the issue of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine also coming into the picture, the view is emerging among Asian countries that the nation truly to be afraid of is not China, but Japan," a Singapore-based researcher said.
Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo honors 14 Class-A war criminals along with the nation's war dead. Koizumi has indicated he would pay another visit there this year, despite sharp criticism from Beijing and Seoul.
The latest Asia Security Conference saw the first participation of a delegation of Chinese government officials. But getting the Chinese to attend meant that Taiwan was left out.
The IISS and Beijing reached an agreement after the IISS presented China with a list of four no's: no government officials from Taiwan would attend, although scholars would be invited; no speeches would be given by Taiwan participants; no official bilateral or multilateral meetings would take place involving a Taiwan participant; and there would be no mention of Taiwan as an independent nation in the official program.
While some participants complained that Taiwan should have been allowed to take part on an equal basis, most individuals sided with the opinion of Teo Chee Hean, Singapore's defense minister, who said the decision was something left up to the hosts.
Chinese officials said they were satisfied with how the conference was handled. A Japanese government official said a Chinese Cabinet minister would likely take part in next year's meeting.
The Asia Security Conference was first held in Singapore in 2002 and brings together defense ministers and officials from the Asia-Pacific region. About a dozen defense ministers have taken part in each of the four conferences held so far.
Because many bilateral meetings are held on the sidelines of the conference, John Chipman, IISS director, said the conference was in all practical terms a governmental meeting with a touch of private-sector participation.
The Asahi Shimbun is a sponsor of the conference.
