00:00Japanese fisher Nakama Hitoshi pilots his boat through a harbor on Ishigaki Island in Japan's
00:07far southwest. On many days like this, he'd be making the 170-kilometer journey into the
00:13contested waters of the East China Sea, dodging Chinese Coast Guard vessels and advancing Japan's
00:18claim to the small island cluster there. But with heightened tensions between Japan and its giant
00:24neighbor, those profitable fishing expeditions to Diaoyutai, or the Senghaku Islands as they're
00:29known in Japan, are off. Nakama has powerful supporters interested in projecting Japanese
00:34power, including the country's finance minister. But even they are telling him to be careful.
00:42What Minister Katayama said was, small incidents can grow bigger and lead to war. So I think what
00:48she was really saying was that she didn't want me to go. China's been especially furious with Japan
00:53since November. That's when Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said that if China goes through with its
00:58threats to invade Taiwan, Japan might have to intervene. China has sharply put export restrictions
01:04on critical minerals headed to Japan. And now it's extending calls for its citizens to avoid Japan
01:09entirely through the upcoming Lunar New Year in an effort to hurt Japan's tourism industry.
01:15Far from walking back her remarks, the Prime Minister has now told broadcaster TV Asahi that if U.S.
01:20troops defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion and Japan stands back,
01:23it would spell the collapse of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
01:29Amid these rumblings, Japan faces a choice, with a snap election scheduled for February 8th.
01:35On Monday, the 2nd, leaders of seven Japanese political parties take to the stage in Tokyo.
01:40In the middle is Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, whose leadership is on the line,
01:45gambling that her popularity will give her ruling coalition both a majority and a solid mandate.
01:51Though the focus of this election is on cost-of-living issues,
01:55these politicians cannot avoid questions about Japan's future security.
01:59China is on the doorstep, and Japan's security guarantor, the U.S.,
02:03is testing old alliances with its latest global actions.
02:07The recent crisis over Greenland has some at the debate, calling for more self-reliance.
02:12For middle powers such as Japan and Europe, I believe that in a sense, this is a threat.
02:18But that said, the Japan-U.S. alliance remains strong,
02:21and diplomatic efforts are needed to maintain America's engagement in Asia.
02:25However, more than ever before, we must defend ourselves.
02:29And others call for Japan to distance itself from the U.S.
02:32Under the Trump administration, which brandishes the rule of force,
02:38we will stop blindly following the United States and transform Japan into a country
02:42that creates peace through the power of diplomacy.
02:46But the Prime Minister's take is more aligned with the status quo.
02:51The United States speaks of the rule of force,
02:54but we understand it as deterrence backed by supporting strength.
02:58Even when you read the text, it is clear that it refers to deterrence through power.
03:03Regarding the Venezuelan issue as well,
03:06after it arose, I clearly expressed my views on social media.
03:10Moreover, I have held telephone talks with President Trump,
03:13and we have built a relationship in which we can speak by phone at any time.
03:18Japan has clearly stated its own position.
03:22While Japanese voters think about their bank accounts in the upcoming election,
03:25they will also have to make a choice many other countries are weighing,
03:29how to position themselves in a world tangled up in larger power conflicts.
03:34It's a tough decision fishers like Nakama on the front lines know all too well.
03:39Justin Wu and John Van Trieste for Taiwan Plus.
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