USKI Policy Brief: “Taiwan and Japan: The Good Neighbor Faces History Issues”

Filed Under: Human Rights, Japan, Publications, Social Issues

The Japanese islands are surrounded by a group of nations—Russia, South Korea, North Korea and China—where historic relations remain frayed, territorial disputes remain unresolved, and residual anger from harsh colonialism and past wars continue to sour relations. While Japan’s relations continue to deteriorate with China and South Korea over historical and territorial issues, the island of Taiwan stands out singularly as Japan’s good neighbor. ~ Dennis P. Halpin

In recent years, Japan and Taiwan have pursued multiple bilateral cultural and economic projects despite unresolved historical issues from World War II. USKI Visiting Scholar Dennis P. Halpin discusses legacy of Japanese imperialism and Comfort Women as more than a bilateral challenge for Japan and South Korea, and suggests future Taiwan-Japan cooperation on historical topics could set a precedent for reconciliation in East Asia.

Download the USKI Policy Brief: “Taiwan and Japan: The Good Neighbor Faces History Issues,” by Dennis P. Halpin.

Dennis P. Halpin is a Visiting Scholar at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is a former adviser on Asian issues to the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He served as a State Department Foreign Service officer in Taipei, Beijing, Seoul and Pusan.