A senior government official said yesterday Japan's concerns about the "defensive referendum" have not hampered the development of Japan-Taiwan ties.
The comment comes ahead of Taiwan sending delegations to the US and Europe to ease concerns over President Chen Shui-bian's (
The delegation to the US is scheduled to leave on Saturday.
Several senior government officials who asked to remain anonymous gave a briefing on the diplomatic row with the US and Japan over the referendum, designed to ask China to dismantle its 496 missiles aimed at Taiwan.
Taiwan does not have formal diplomatic ties with Japan.
"We need to boost bilateral relations in areas which can profit both Taiwan and Japan's national interests," an official said.
The free-trade talks between Taiwan and Japan are an area in which the two countries may work to cement ties, the official said.
Japan regards stability across the Taiwan Strait as a key factor in maintaining regional peace and hopes cross-strait disputes can be solved through peaceful means, the official said.
Fearing that cross-strait tensions may spin out of control because of the referendum issue, the official added, "Japanese officials have recently cautioned Beijing not to resort to using force against Taiwan."
Although Japan's de facto ambassador to Taipei, Katsuhisa Uchida, recently visited the Presidential Office to express Japan's worries about the referendum, the official noted the Japanese government's formal response to the vote remains to be seen.
Uchida, one of the most pro-Taiwan of Japan's envoys to Taipei over the years, was believed to have made the visit to the Presidential Office under pressure from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The official declined to comment on whether officials in the ministry are predominantly pro-China.
The official declined to confirm whether any disagreements have emerged in Taiwan-Japan relations because of the referendum.
Even though efforts are needed to convince Japan of Taiwan's desire for the referendum, the official said he is optimistic about ties between the two countries.
"Over the past three years, 34 percent of the members of the Japanese Diet have visited Taiwan," the official said.
Personal connections and relationships, the official added, are vital in the Japanese political process.
The official cited the visits by members of the Diet as a sign of improved ties.
China has put great pressure on Japan to oppose former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori' s recent visit to Taiwan, the official said. Mori, who carried out the trip nonetheless, reportedly cautioned Chen about his referendum agenda.
Japan, by sending troops to Iraq, has exhibited its desire to share more international responsibility. Japan's ties with the US are now at the top of its diplomatic agenda, the official said.
"The enhancement in the Japan-US relations will expand Taiwan and Japan's diplomatic space," the official said.
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