00:00How has Taiwan's regional engagement, that's countries like Japan, the Philippines, ASEAN
00:03nations, changed in recent years, especially in the last year under President Lai?
00:07Taiwan has always engaged quietly in an unofficial manner. Apparently, there has been more
00:14conversations with Japan and the Philippines in particular. A lot of this has to do with
00:20increasing concern about PRC pressure on the so-called first island chain that could affect
00:27the interests of all these parties. Do you anticipate, given the tensions between Japan
00:32and China, China and the Philippines, any changes to Taiwan's security cooperation with regional
00:37neighbors, especially in the absence of formal diplomatic ties between Taipei, Manila and Taipei
00:41and Tokyo? A lot of this has to do with the recognition on the part of the Philippines
00:48that geographically they're right next to Taiwan. Any instability in Taiwan could quickly spill over.
00:55Likewise, I think Taiwan realizes that with the Philippines just towards south and the rising
01:01tensions in the South China Sea, any escalation could easily move north as well. A similar logic
01:07applies to Japan. So these considerations have driven them to be a lot, Manila and Tokyo and Taipei, to be
01:17a lot more aware of each other and a lot more aware of the need to at least understand what each other's
01:22positions are. Lots of things don't need formal diplomatic ties. So Taipei and Tokyo have had
01:28long-standing close but unofficial ties. Same thing with Washington. Ties with the Philippines have only
01:35more recently been revitalized. What do you see as likely indicators of future shifts and security
01:41policy in the region? It's a matter of interest, right? It's a matter of wanting to keep themselves and
01:46their interests safe and there seems to be reason to look at what each other are doing more so now
01:54than ever. Indicators would possibly be more robust and sophisticated forms of coordination. If the
02:04parties, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines speak with each other not just bilaterally but on a multilateral
02:12basis, perhaps if they bring in other actors that have deep interest in the region as well. The
02:17coverage of the missiles and also equipment aircraft etc overlap suggests that there is a recognition
02:26that having an extended forward line of defense may be important and that may mean that Taiwan
02:35features higher more in Japanese and Filipino considerations.
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