"I am afraid that it practically prevents the possibility of any early warning system from functioning," he said, as it is up to China to decide whether Taiwanese public opinion has leaned too far toward formal independence.
"That means we have to be always prepared for a surprise attack, which from the Chinese perspective, is a legitimate attack required by the law. In diplomatic and military terms, Taiwan is in a state [of constant] ultimatum, totally dependent upon the unilateral Chinese interpretation," Okazaki said.
Regarding the proposal of a Japanese version of the US' Taiwan Relations Act by some Japanese academics, Okazaki said there was a push for this kind of legislation two years ago, but the movement petered out.
However, with the formation of the new cabinet this month, Okazaki said, a new political movement conducive to such legislation may be at hand.
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