The Japanese-language daily Nikkei published a two-part column describing Japan and democratic countries in Europe as “tacitly accepting” Israel’s and the US’ use of military force against Iran, profoundly reflecting on the two countries’ attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and the reactions of Western nations.
European countries — which have consistently emphasized international law and multilateralism, but now choose to keep a low profile and silent by not condemning the attacks — are apparently not determined enough to uphold the principle of resolving conflicts peacefully.
Japan, which relies on the Middle East for its energy needs and is constrained by its security alliance with the US, finds itself in an uncomfortable position. The East Asian nation is not only ambiguous in its diplomatic policies, but is also demonstrating a lack of strategy.
The US, as a leader of the democratic bloc, did not just tacitly approve Israel’s military actions, but also directly took part in the conflict.
Since US President Donald Trump’s first administration withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in 2018, the US has adopted a tough stance on Tehran. Watching the US strike Iran soon after Trump’s return to the White House, belligerent China probably has mixed feelings.
The US is no longer playing the role of an arbitrator of the international order, but is instead overtly demonstrating its power.
As “might makes right” increasingly becomes a policy, the international order of the free world is undergoing a significant reshuffle.
The authoritarian bloc is stirring. Russia is bolstering its military cooperation with Iran, while China is promoting a “de-dollarization” and “de-Westernization” strategy centered around Iran, attempting to rewrite international rules.
From Ukraine to the Persian Gulf, and from the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait, the world is entering a multifront confrontation. It is not just a military race, but a struggle between different systems and values.
Taiwan finds itself at the forefront of the confrontation between democracy and authoritarianism.
Taiwan is a global hub for strategy, democratic values and technology. Strategically located at a critical point in the first island chain, the nation controls the supply of the world’s most advanced semiconductors.
Taiwan is not only irreplaceable in the geopolitical landscape and the global tech industry, but it is also unique in the way that it is the only free and democratic political entity in the Chinese-speaking world. These achievements serve as Taiwan’s shield, a thorn in dictators’ side and a jewel cherished by the free world.
As the conflict in Ukraine drags on and the Middle East plunges into chaos, Europe observes in silence, while Japan is caught in a dilemma. Taiwan’s role has become increasingly clear.
Taiwan is not on the periphery, but the front line, no longer being a “troublemaker,” but a pillar safeguarding the values of freedom and democracy.
Even if the rules of the free world change, as long as Taiwan’s values remain steadfast, the world will see Taiwan not as a synonym of crisis, but as a beacon of freedom and democracy. The country is not a pawn to be manipulated, but a ray of hope for the world.
Wang Hui-sheng is chief director of the Kisei Ladies’ and Children’s Hospital in Japan, and a founding member of the East Asian Research Institute.
Translated by Fion Khan
President William Lai (賴清德) attended a dinner held by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) when representatives from the group visited Taiwan in October. In a speech at the event, Lai highlighted similarities in the geopolitical challenges faced by Israel and Taiwan, saying that the two countries “stand on the front line against authoritarianism.” Lai noted how Taiwan had “immediately condemned” the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and had provided humanitarian aid. Lai was heavily criticized from some quarters for standing with AIPAC and Israel. On Nov. 4, the Taipei Times published an opinion article (“Speak out on the
Most Hong Kongers ignored the elections for its Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2021 and did so once again on Sunday. Unlike in 2021, moderate democrats who pledged their allegiance to Beijing were absent from the ballots this year. The electoral system overhaul is apparent revenge by Beijing for the democracy movement. On Sunday, the Hong Kong “patriots-only” election of the LegCo had a record-low turnout in the five geographical constituencies, with only 1.3 million people casting their ballots on the only seats that most Hong Kongers are eligible to vote for. Blank and invalid votes were up 50 percent from the previous
More than a week after Hondurans voted, the country still does not know who will be its next president. The Honduran National Electoral Council has not declared a winner, and the transmission of results has experienced repeated malfunctions that interrupted updates for almost 24 hours at times. The delay has become the second-longest post-electoral silence since the election of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez of the National Party in 2017, which was tainted by accusations of fraud. Once again, this has raised concerns among observers, civil society groups and the international community. The preliminary results remain close, but both
News about expanding security cooperation between Israel and Taiwan, including the visits of Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) in September and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) this month, as well as growing ties in areas such as missile defense and cybersecurity, should not be viewed as isolated events. The emphasis on missile defense, including Taiwan’s newly introduced T-Dome project, is simply the most visible sign of a deeper trend that has been taking shape quietly over the past two to three years. Taipei is seeking to expand security and defense cooperation with Israel, something officials
RSS