ABSTRACT
The increasing importance of the Pacific Basin is being highlighted by several factors. From an economic viewpoint, Japan has become an industrial and economic superpower in the Pacific Basin, and its influence on world economy has become more and more marked. The island of Taiwan is of special political and strategic significance in relation to the Pacific Community. Without Taiwan as a crucial link in the chain of islands off the East Asian coast, the security and economy of countries such as Japan, Korea, and the Philippines would be greatly jeopardized. On its own, Taiwan has devoted much attention toward strengthening itself in anticipation of its role in the future security of the Western Pacific. Taiwan has several peculiar qualities aside from its strategic importance, which must be taken into account by the Pacific Community in its efforts to maintain security and economic prosperity.
