The relationship between China and Taiwan has rapidly improved since the new administration of President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated in May 2008. In contrast, Ma's relations with Japan have always been fraught with concerns on the part of Japan, including those of Taiwan being swallowed up into China and Ma's latent anti-Japanese sentiment. Meanwhile, suspicions have been lingering in some circles in China and Taiwan that improved cross-strait relations are not welcomed by Japan. Yasuhiro Matsuda discusses what improved cross-strait relations and the Ma administration's Japan policy mean for Japan.

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