New Presidency of Taiwan May Affect Japan’s Security

Lai Ching-te, Vice-president for Democratic Progressive Party administration led by President Tsai Ying-wen, won the presidential election voted on Saturday. Upholding Taiwan’s sovereignty independent from People’s Republic of China, Lai declared “victory of democracy” after defeating other two candidates with opposition parties. Although it is likely that the tension over Taiwan Straits gets high, the political leaders in Japan welcomed victory of Lai.

It was a tight three-way race by Lai, Hou Yu-ih with Kuomintang and Ko Wen-je with People’s Party. While Hou criticized DPP’s handling of relations with PRC as heightening tension and appealed his policy strengthening ties with Beijing. Ko demanded changes from bipartisan politics by DPP and KMT. Lai asserted keeping status quo in Taiwan Straits by maintaining defense capability or cooperation with foreign countries.

 

Although Lai did not achieve simple majority of all voters, it is fair to say that the people in Taiwan chose the way to be independent from PRC’s pressure for unification, believing to some extent in DPP’s handling of Taiwan-PRC relations under President Tsai. DPP keeps the administration for three terms for the first time.

 

Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yoko Kamikawa, issued a statement as soon as Lai’s winning. “The Government of Japan congratulates the smooth implementation of the democratic election and Mr. Lai on his victory,” she said. Calling Taiwan an extremely crucial partner and an important friend, the statement noted Japan’s willingness for further cooperation and exchanges with Taiwan, as expecting peaceful solution of the issue surrounding Taiwan.

 

PRC showed some frustration with the result of the presidential election in Taiwan. “Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change,” foreign ministry spokesperson’s remarks said. PRC’s Embassy in Japan criticized Kamikawa’s statement as intervention to Chinese domestic politics.

 

As seen in the response of PRC, Lai’s victory may cause higher security tension in Taiwan Straits, which means instability of security for Japan. Vice-president of leading Liberal Democratic Party, Taro Aso, delivered a comment to the reporters in Washington, DC, few days before Taiwan presidential election, that a contingency in Taiwan may urge serious decision to Japan. “There is an extremely strong possibility that the government will conclude Japan’s very existence is at stake,” said Aso on hypothetical military conflict in Taiwan Strait.

 

Japan made a major review in security legislature in 2015, in which it can exercise collective self-defense rights when its existence is in jeopardy. Collective self-defense right, a right to protect foreign force even though Japan is not attacked, had been recognized as not exercisable with interpretation of the Constitution of Japan. Contingency in Taiwan has a potential to change Japan’s pacifism forever.

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