4 ms·

As China-Taiwan Tensions Rise, Japan Begins Preparing for Possible Conflict

20 points by hncurious 5y ago

xyzzy21 5y ago
Taiwan has a fundamentally different place in Japanese culture, psyche and Zeitgeist than any other country does due to common history. Taiwan was a colony of Japan as a result of "spoils of war" when China was beaten in the 1st Sino-Japanese war in the late 19th century. Japan lost Taiwan after their WW2 surrender. But strong ties already existed and continue to exist. Pretty much all modern infrastructure in Taiwan was created by the Japanese during this colonial period and since. For example the Taiwanese HSR is pretty much identical to the Japanese Shinkansen (T700 is a variant of the 700+). Similarly you'll see Japanese-style electrical transformers and towers on raised concrete support pylons all over Taiwan. Further it was the norm for Taiwanese to study and work in Japan during the colonial period, so there remains a very strong connection on both sides. For example, my Taiwanese EVP speaks fluent Japanese in addition to English and naturally Mandarin because his parents spent much of their lives as "Taiwanese expats" in Japan. In some ways it's similar to the USA and Philippines. That special relationship is exemplified by how Filipinos have a RIGHT to serve in the US armed forces and will automatically qualify for US citizenship by serving honorably. No other country has that legally binding situation. Similarly both the Filipino government structure (Constitution and 3 houses of government) is identical to the US and all modern infrastructure was created by the USA on the US dime. So there is a similar "special relationship". So no one should be surprised by this.
- LurkingPenguin 5y ago
  I live in Taiwan and I think you're reading a little too much into the "special relationship" here. Japan's concerns are borne more out of the practical fact that if China takes Taiwan life is going to get a lot more difficult for Japan, not the mutual fondness the Japanese and Taiwanese have for each other. The Japan-Taiwan relationship isn't super comparable to the US-Philippine relationship either. The program you refer to, under which non-immigrant Filipinos could join the US Navy, was built on the presence of US bases in the Philippines. The program ended in 1992, the same year the US Naval Base in Subic Bay was closed. Although Japan is getting closer to Taiwan today because of the China threat, Japan still does not officially recognize Taiwan, has no military bases in Taiwan, etc. Japan and Taiwan dispute the Senkaku Islands. Finally, despite the fact that modern-day Taiwanese and Japanese people for the most part have very favorable views of each other and tourism between the countries was very popular pre-pandemic, Japan's history with Taiwan's indigenous people is not pretty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule#Annexation_and_armed_resistance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule#Ann...
simonblack 5y ago
The Chinese don't have happy memories of the eight years of Japanese invasions and atrocities during WW2, apart from the decades of territory-taking before 1937. They won't be 'kind' when the boot's on the other foot.

20 points by hncurious 5y ago

Taiwan has a fundamentally different place in Japanese culture, psyche and Zeitgeist than any other country does due to common history. Taiwan was a colony of Japan as a result of "spoils of war" when China was beaten in the 1st Sino-Japanese war in the late 19th century. Japan lost Taiwan after their WW2 surrender. But strong ties already existed and continue to exist. Pretty much all modern infrastructure in Taiwan was created by the Japanese during this colonial period and since. For example the Taiwanese HSR is pretty much identical to the Japanese Shinkansen (T700 is a variant of the 700+). Similarly you'll see Japanese-style electrical transformers and towers on raised concrete support pylons all over Taiwan. Further it was the norm for Taiwanese to study and work in Japan during the colonial period, so there remains a very strong connection on both sides. For example, my Taiwanese EVP speaks fluent Japanese in addition to English and naturally Mandarin because his parents spent much of their lives as "Taiwanese expats" in Japan. In some ways it's similar to the USA and Philippines. That special relationship is exemplified by how Filipinos have a RIGHT to serve in the US armed forces and will automatically qualify for US citizenship by serving honorably. No other country has that legally binding situation. Similarly both the Filipino government structure (Constitution and 3 houses of government) is identical to the US and all modern infrastructure was created by the USA on the US dime. So there is a similar "special relationship". So no one should be surprised by this.

LurkingPenguin 5y ago
I live in Taiwan and I think you're reading a little too much into the "special relationship" here. Japan's concerns are borne more out of the practical fact that if China takes Taiwan life is going to get a lot more difficult for Japan, not the mutual fondness the Japanese and Taiwanese have for each other. The Japan-Taiwan relationship isn't super comparable to the US-Philippine relationship either. The program you refer to, under which non-immigrant Filipinos could join the US Navy, was built on the presence of US bases in the Philippines. The program ended in 1992, the same year the US Naval Base in Subic Bay was closed. Although Japan is getting closer to Taiwan today because of the China threat, Japan still does not officially recognize Taiwan, has no military bases in Taiwan, etc. Japan and Taiwan dispute the Senkaku Islands. Finally, despite the fact that modern-day Taiwanese and Japanese people for the most part have very favorable views of each other and tourism between the countries was very popular pre-pandemic, Japan's history with Taiwan's indigenous people is not pretty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule#Annexation_and_armed_resistance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule#Ann...

simonblack 5y ago

The Chinese don't have happy memories of the eight years of Japanese invasions and atrocities during WW2, apart from the decades of territory-taking before 1937. They won't be 'kind' when the boot's on the other foot.