Seattle think tank assesses Japan's new assertiveness in East Asia vis-a-vis Taiwan

Japan's passive stance over Taiwan long gone - The Honolulu Advertiser :

"The study asserts: 'Taiwan's quiet initiative to push for a greater level of informal defense contacts with Japan arises in no small part from shared history and democratic values, common strategic constraints and island threat environments, as well as the close relations that both Tokyo and Taipei maintain with the United States.'"

The study also note the increasing tendency of of regional politics to split into Chinese vs. US blocs. As a long-time supporter of Taiwan, going back to the days of US Rep. Walter Judd, MD (R-MN) and the Committee of One Million Against the Admission of Red China to the United Nations, I am happy to see this development.