Plans for a Japanese consortium to construct a shinkansen link between Taiwan's two biggest cities will showcase Tokyo's technology and "railway diplomacy." Both have been running virtually nonstop and on schedule since 1872, when the first line connecting Tokyo's Shimbashi station to Yokohama opened.
Some alarmist analysts see Japan's new railway moves leading to a resurgence of Tokyo's political influence in Asia, even though Japan's no-war Constitution deprives any such thrust of military protection.
The new line linking Taipei and Kaohsiung -- 345 km in about 90 minutes when it goes into operation in 2005 -- would cost about $3 billion and would involve giant Japanese conglomerates Mitsui and Co., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toshiba Corp. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.