Japan should play a more aggressive role as leader in East Asia to boost the security in the Asia-Pacific region both politically and strategically, President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen gave the interview to the Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday.
Chen called on Japan to help balance the rising power of China.
"I want Japan to play a more positive role in Asia and the Pacific to deal with the growing power of China," the Asahi quoted Chen as saying.
He said that dramatic changes in East Asia had been caused by China's increasing economic and military might, reminding Japan of Beijing's strategy to compete with both Japan and the US by increasing its influence in the region.
He said Japan's involvement in regional security is needed, and he urged Tokyo to increase its participation in UN peacekeeping operations and to work for a strategic parity among countries in East Asia.
"Japan can take a leadership role in the political and military fields ... Japan will be able to become a balancer," he said.
He said he was "extremely interested" in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's proposed changes to Japan's pacifist Constitution, which may allow an expanded international role for its Self-Defense Forces.
Chen stressed his efforts to internationalize the cross-strait issue. The Asahi article said Chen's opinions "also underline Japan's increased attention to East Asia through its strengthened alliance with the United States."
In February, Japan and the US agreed the issues involving the Taiwan Strait should be resolved in a peaceful manner.
Chen stressed his sincerity in trying to launch a dialog with Chinese President Hu Jintao (
He said he has had difficulty in tolerating Beijing's recent moves to promote exchanges with leaders of Taiwan's opposition parties.
"I cannot support those moves if they are aimed at splitting Taiwan for unification," Chen was quoted as saying.
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